Director's Discretionary Program

Modeled on the HST approach, up to 5% of the total Chandra observing time will be reserved for CXC Director's Discretionary Time(DDT) observations. This allocation of time shall include unanticipated, non-peer reviewed TOOs.

Proposals for DDT should be confined to unique scientific opportunities for which the scientific return might be compromised by waiting to propose during the next Chandra Call for Proposals. Proposals which could reasonably go through the peer review process generally will not be favorably received. The request will be assessed by the CXC director in consultation with the NASA Project Scientist.

Proposals should be submitted using the DDT version of RPS.

A modest proprietary period (of up to 3 months) may be granted by the CXC Director on request. Funding may also be provided for such observations if deemed necessary to facilitate maximal scientific return, following a simple, ad-hoc review which will include NASA representatives.

• Use the PRoVis tool to investigate Chandra spacecraft roll, pitch and visibility for your target as a function of date. Check the pitch angle for your desired target and observing date(s) to be sure your target can be observed.
• If necessary, view the MaxExpo web page to estimate the maximum uninterrupted Chandra exposure time as a function of pitch.
• Download ObsVis to examine the Chandra instrument Field of View displayed on the sky.

The following links provide instruction and information regarding DDT observations.

• Information about DDT Observations

  • List of DDT Observations, Including Abstracts and Publication Information (Updated Daily)
    

• Proposing a New DDT Observation

  • Procedure concerning TOOs and DDT (Chapter 4 of the CfP)
    
  • Request for Observation (RPS):
    
    • Chandra Observing Proposal Information (TOOs and DDTs)
      
    • Help with DDT RPS form
    • Propose a DDT observation (RPS form)
      

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  Last modified: 12/16/08

  
  
  
  
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  The Chandra X-Ray Center (CXC) is operated for NASA by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. 60 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 USA.    Email: cxcweb@head.cfa.harvard.edu Smithsonian Institution, Copyright © 1998-2004. All rights reserved.

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