Date: Thu, 11 Oct 2007 13:28:00 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Spitzer Cycle-5 proposal deadline reminder, Spitzer Conference deadlines

Contents of mailing:

1.  Reminder of Spitzer Cycle-5 proposal deadline
2.  Spitzer Conference deadlines


1. Reminder of Spitzer Cycle-5 proposal deadline
--------------------------------------------------
A reminder that proposals for General Observations (GO),
Guaranteed Time Observations (GTO), and funding for
Archival Research (AR) and Theoretical Research (TR) are
due by Friday, 16 November 2007, 5:00 PM PST.

Cycle-5 is the last cryogenic cycle for Spitzer.

We draw your attention again to several new features and
major changes for Cycle-5.  Proposers should consult the
Call for Proposals, issued on 15 August, for details:
http://ssc.spitzer.caltech.edu/propkit/currentcp.html.

1) A full year of observations will be selected, although we
expect to be able to execute only half of these before the
cryogen is depleted;
2) there are no joint proposals with HST and Chandra this
time.
3) Large (> 200 hour) proposals will be accepted, but are strongly
discouraged;  Legacy proposals may still be submitted in the
medium category (50-200 hours);
4) We will be accepting statistical proposals, i.e., those for which
a specified number of observations are required, but this set of
required observations is not unique;
5) Time has been set aside for what the TAC may consider
"high risk/high gain" science;
6) moving targets are now assessed an additional overhead; and,
7) AR/TR program funding will only be offered in six fixed funding
amounts, and only these amounts; detailed, institutionally endorsed
budgets are not required.

Additionally, we point out that proposers intending to conduct
photometry of, particularly, point sources with MIPS at 160 microns
should select the "Enhanced," rather than the "Default," mode.
The Enhanced mode, introduced during Cycle-4, represents a
significant improvement for point source photometry at 160 microns
and should be the mode observers employ. Proposers should see the
MIPS chapter of the Spitzer Observer's Manual for details:
http://ssc.spitzer.caltech.edu/documents/som/.

The online ROC, at http://ssc.spitzer.caltech.edu/roc/, has also been
updated.  However, proposers should always search the ROC using
Leopard, for the most up-to-the-minute list of reserved observations.

Leopard is part of the same software suite, Spitzer Pride, as Spot,
the observation planning tool, available at
http://ssc.spitzer.caltech.edu/propkit/spot/.

All programmatic and technical information for Cycle-5 is available
electronically from the Proposal Kit section of the Spitzer Science
Center website, at http://ssc.spitzer.caltech.edu/propkit/.

Any questions related to proposals for Cycle-5 should be addressed
to the Spitzer Helpdesk at help@spitzer.caltech.edu.


2. Spitzer Conference deadlines
--------------------------------------------------
Following a great response to our call for early registration and
abstract submission for the 4th Annual Spitzer conference, "The Evolving
ISM in the Milky Way and Nearby Galaxies,"  we wanted to inform colleagues
of the next important deadline (Oct 19) for abstract submissions for a
contributed talk.  The SOC will meet the week following Oct 19 to finalize
a program, so if you want to contribute a talk, please register and submit
an abstract before Oct 19.  Poster submissions are welcome until Nov 21.
We encourage you to register now and take advantage of the lower
registration fees when you submit the abstract.  Also note that the
deadline for the conference hotel reservations is November 2.

Registration, abstract submission and other details:
http://ssc.spitzer.caltech.edu/mtgs/ismevol/.


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