Management of User Requests
IEEC

OdM Call for Proposals for Semester 2027A

The Montsec Observatory (OdM-IEEC) announces a Call for Proposals for open observing time at the 0.8m Joan Oró Telescope (TJO) utilizing the MEIA2 imager and the ARES spectrograph.

Furthermore, an Announcement of Opportunity is open to scientists from all institutions for observing time at the 0.4m Wide-Field Fast Telescope (TRAC) equipped with the CLEDA imager, operating in robotic mode on a shared-risk basis.

In collaboration with the Fabra Observatory of the RACAB, the OdM also invites proposals for observing time at the 0.5m Fabra-ROA Montsec Telescope (TFRM), a modified Baker-Nunn camera.

Proposals can be submitted until Friday, 30 October 2026 at 22:00 UTC through the MUR system (see below) for the following observing periods:
  • Regular Proposals: 01 January – 30 June 2027
  • Long-Term Proposals (TJO only): 01 January 2027 – 31 December 2028

 

Information for long-term and regular TJO proposals

  • Individual regular proposals may request up to 100 hours of observing time on the TJO over the Semester 2027A (01 January – 30 June 2027).
  • Individual long-term proposals may request up to 700 hours of total observing time on the TJO over the following 2-year period (01 January 2027 – 31 December 2028). Long-term proposals requesting modest allocations across this period are also welcome.
  • MEIA2 is a 2k × 2k back-illuminated CCD providing a 12.3' × 12.3' Field of View (FoV) at 0.36"/pixel resolution.
  • Filter wheel options include broadband Johnson-Cousins (UBVRcIc), SDSS (griz), and narrowband Hα (650–664 nm) filters.
  • Along with raw images, reduced data with astrometry and standard photometry are provided via Phase 3 of MUR.
  • ARES operates at a spectral resolution of R = 12,000 using two distinct VPH gratings offering wavelength windows: 495-530 nm (includes the Mg I triplet) 630-673 nm (includes the Hα line).
  • An automated data reduction pipeline operating since March 2025 delivers extracted and calibrated spectra via Phase 3 of MUR, complete with radial velocity measurements and spectral line equivalent widths. More information can be found at the data retrieval section.

Announcement of Opportunity for TRAC proposals

  • This Announcement of Opportunity is open to scientists from all institutions. Observing operations for this initial run will be robotic and conducted on a shared-risk basis.
  • Individual proposals may request up to 100 hours of observing time on the TRAC over the Semester 2027A (01 January – 30 June 2027).
  • The Wide-Field Fast Telescope (TRAC) is a 0.4m ASA H400 f/2.4 reflector mounted on an ASA DDM100 equatorial mount with high pointing and tracking speed.
  • CLEDA is a QHY 411M Pro CMOS camera capable of full-frame frame rates exceeding 10 fps, delivering a 3.1° × 2.4° Field of View (FoV) at 0.81"/pixel resolution.
  • An upgraded filter wheel containing broadband SDSS (griz) and luminance filters is scheduled for integration during the semester. Proposals dependent on filter availability are also welcome.

Information for regular TFRM proposals

  • No explicit recommendation is given for the maximum requested time for TFRM proposals. Users are advised that available open observing time is significantly more limited than on the TJO.
  • The TFRM currently operates with a longpass filter (>475 nm) and an FLI PL16803 4k × 4k front-illuminated CCD, providing a 4.4° × 4.4° FoV and 3.9"/pixel resolution. Raw images are provided.
  • The camera may be upgraded during the semester to an FLI KL4040BSI (4k × 4k back-illuminated CMOS), maintaining equivalent field characteristics (4.4° × 4.4° FoV, 3.9"/pixel).
  • For inquiries specific to TFRM proposals, please contact Jorge Núñez directly at <jorge@fqa.ub.edu>


Additional resources and links:

For general inquiries regarding this call, please contact us at <obsmontsec@ieec.cat>.

Kike Herrero
OdM Director