POLICY

1. Can I propose to search for exoplanets or work upon exoplanet-related science?
2. What happens if I unexpectedly find an exoplanet around my source?
3. What is the difference between the GO program and the KASC program?

DATA

1. What are the consequences of choosing a custom target?

PROPOSING

1. I've missed the deadlines for Cycle 1 - can I still propose for observing time?
2. Can I propose a source which is *not* in the KIC?
3. Can I observe a source brighter than the saturation level?
4. What do I need to include in my proposal? A budget? A CV
5. I'm breaking the page limit due to a long target table! What can I do?

ARCHIVE

1. MAST tells me my GO data is proprietary and I cannot have access?

MISCELLANEOUS

1. What is a .bz2 file?

Can I propose to search for exoplanets or work upon exoplanet-related science?

No. Exoplanet and exo-planet related science is reserved for the Kepler Science Team. Furthermore, by proposing for Kepler GO targets, you are agreeing to the policy of non-disclosure of exoplanet information obtained serendipitously or otherwise through your GO targets. This policy is described in the NASA NRA and all GOs will sign non-disclosure agreements before receiving their data.

What happens if I unexpectedly find an exoplanet around my source?

The Kepler Key Project will perform follow-up observations. If confirmed the detection will be announced and published by the Kepler project. You will be invited to participate in the exoplanet investigation and will be invited to co-author resulting papers. The non-disclosure agreement applies in all cases.

What is the difference between the GO program and the KASC program?

The KASC program belongs to the Kepler Astroseismology Science Consortium. The KASC program has been instigated by the Kepler project to exploit the missions astroseismological potential using guaranteed short- and long-cadence targets each quarter. However the KASC program does not constrain the GO program, GOs can propose the same targets and science as the KASC with no limitations, plus GOs have the following advantages over KASC members:

1. KASC short cadence data are Fourier filtered to remove potential transits. No transit filtering is performed on GO data.
2. KASC members abide by specific Kepler Team publication policies, GOs do not.

What are the consequences of choosing a custom target?

A custom target is a source which requires the GO to submit a non-standard custom aperture. Examples are extended sources, saturated sources and sources without KIC entries. Custom targets will be processed at the Science Operations Center so that pixels are calibrated, but light curve products will not be generated for the archive. Guest Observers will need to construct their own light curves from pixel data.

I've missed the deadline for Guest Observer propsals - can I still propose for observing time?

Yes. There will shortly be two Guest Observer Programs, open to all for proposing targets of astrophysical interest.

• Annual Kepler Guest Observer Program Announcements of Opportunity are released as part of NASA's Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) Program. New announcements and updates can be found at the NSPIRES website.

• Starting from Quarter 6, in Jun 2010, the Guest Observer Office will be offering Director's Discretionary Targets (DDTs). This will be an unfunded competition held quarterly for individual or small samples of targets that provide a faster turnaround between the proposal process and the archiving process.

Can I propose a source which is *not* in the KIC?

Yes. Follow the instructions in the AO and target table preparation guide carefully so we'll know how to best observe your source.

Can I observe a source brighter than the saturation level?

Yes. Contact the GO Office to understand the implications of proposing such an observation.

What do I need to include in my proposal? A budget? A CV?

For a checklist of required proposal components, please see the Proposal Preparation page.

I'm breaking the page limit due to a long target table! What can I do?

Exceptions to the page limits will be made for long target tables, or proposals with large numbers of Co-Is. It is essential, however, that the scientific justification section adhere to the standard page limits.

MAST tells me my GO data is proprietary and I cannot have access?

The Kepler Science Office has supplied MAST with your email address and GO program number. But this alone is not enough for a GO to access their data. There are two further steps that a GO must perform themselves.

• Register as a user at MAST, creating a username and password to link to your email address.
• email MAST at archive@stsci.edu and request that your program number be registered with your MAST username.

This admin will typically take <24h, but we recommend GOs apply before their data becomes available.

What is a .bz2 file?

A file ending in .bz2 has been encoded using the bzip2 data compression algorithm. For more information on bzip2 files, see the bzip2 project pages.