`Fast-Track' Service Program

As decided by the STC, and in collaboration with the head of the OPC, a Service Observing Program has been set-up which has become operable at the start of period 31.

The system that was set-up to receive, evaluate and grade the proposals worked successfully. For the execution of the observations a data-base system was set-up as a tool to assist in selecting the observations to be executed in service mode in an optimal way. This system also serves as observing log and administrative tool, and automatically notifies PIs if observations were made for their proposal. As part of the system the data are automatically copied to the ftp server were the can be retrieved by the PIs.

A total of 8 service nights were spread-out over period 31. During the semester a total of 10 proposals were accepted for execution, of which 9 requested observations with ALFOSC and 1 requested observations with NOTCam. At the end of the semester 2 out of the 10 proposal had been completed. It should be noted that the large majority of the proposals arrived in the middle or toward the end of the semester. Furthermore, most proposals have relatively strong requirements for the observing conditions which together with the relatively poor weather conditions largely explains the low completion rates.