The exploded message from NSPIRES is indeed true - the Kepler cycle 2 GO proposal deadline has been extended to midnight EST on Jan 22, 2010. The extension was requested by NASA Headquarters to ensure that GOs were not caught out by the one-phase submission process. We empathize with all of the proposers who have been working with great industry over the past few days. On the plus side, you now have 7 more days to perfect your proposals. Those proposers who have already submitted have the option of retracting their proposals from the NSPIRES system and resubmitting amended versions before the new deadline. Note that only your Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) has permission to retract your proposals.
The Kepler spacecraft, launched
on Mar 6, 2009, monitors 150,000+ stars with continuous 30
minute temporal sampling. Kepler's primary science objective
is exoplanet
detection, with particular focus on terrestrial planets
within habitable zones. The 115 square degree field of view
is located within the Cygnus-Lyra region and will be
continuously monitored throughout the full mission. There is a
nominal magnitude range for Kepler science of mkep =
9−15 for the primary program, although justifiable
targets as bright as mkep ≈ 5 and as faint as
mkep ≈ 20 will be considered for
Guest Observer (GO) use. The one instrumental bandpass is
broad, from 4,200 to 9,000 Å and the point spread
function is approximately 6 arc seconds (FWHM). Photometric precision is 50
parts per million for a mkep = 12 magnitude G2V star
integrating for 30 minutes. With a baseline mission of 3.5
years and an option for an additional 2 year extension, the
resulting data archive will provide a unique combination of
photometric precision, duration, contiguity and source
volume.
The community have opportunities to both develop observing
programs and mine this rich data set for astrophysical results
that are not included within the primary
Kepler Mission. The Kepler Guest Observer Office is
dedicated to the service of the broad science community, with a
charter to promote the exploitation of Kepler data and broaden
the scientific impact of this mission.
EXAMPLE OF KEPLER QUARTER 2 GO CADENCE DATA (NOV 20, 2009)
» Cycle 2 Announcement of Opportunity released Feb 13, 2009
» Cycle 2 Notice of Intent due Dec 4, 2009
» Cycle 2 proposals due Jan 22, 2010
» Cycle 2 proposal review Mar, 2010
» Cycle 2 duration Jun 2010 − May 2011
Latest Kepler News
»
All target restrictions have been dropped for the cycle 2 GO competition (Dec 16, 2009)