Sociedad Chilena de Astronomía

Access to chilean telescope time

The following text is a translation of the eligibility rules posted on this website. This page is meant to aid those who are more comfortable with english than spanish. However, in case of any ambiguity, the spanish version of these rules is the official version and should be followed.

 Eligibility rules for the use of Chilean telescope time

International observatories operating in Chile have access to the best skies and observing conditions in the world. Aditionally, the Chilean Government grants them the status of international organization, allowing them to operate under very favourable regulations. In turn, those international observatories put a portion of their observing time (10%) at the disposal of the astronomers that work in Chilean Institutions (IC, where an IC is defined as a University, Research Center, or Research Institute, or in general any national institution dedicated to research in astrophysics). These resources are valuable and it is the duty of the community to ensure that they are use in a responsable and efective manner.

To assist the different Time Allocation Committees (TAC) to determine which researchers may have access to the Chilean community telescope time, SOCHIAS, in collaboration with the Department Directors (or equivalent position), will create and update a ‘White list’ that will include those researchers. The following text has the purpose to provide guidance so that relevant institutions determine which of their members may be included in the white list. This text was approved in the General Assembly held at the 2017 annual meeting of the Society. The overall philosophy followed during the elaboration of it is that any astronomer affiliated to an IC where astrophysical research takes place and that contributes in a significant measure to the academic life at that institution, is able to have access to Chilean telescope time, as long as this researcher does not have access to these resources through an institution that is not an IC.

People in the following categories may be included in the White list:

  1. Academic: Researcher hired by an IC in a permanent position (tenure-track equivalent), full time and in any payment regime (‘honorarios’, with contract, etc.).

  2. Graduate student: With a letter of support* from an academic that fulfills 1) and that belongs to the same institution as the student.

  3. Postdocs: Postdoctoral scholars with a fixed term contract (including ‘a honorarios’) or with a ‘convenio’ in an IC, for at least half-time and with a total stay of at least 6 months. They are able to apply from the moment that they accept the position. To determine the final cycle to which they may apply, it will be considered that they have to be at the institution until at least the beginning of the cycle when observations would be carried out.

  4. Visiting Professor: Same as Postdocs plus with the participation of a Co-I that fulfills rule 1.

  5. Adjunct Researchers: Any Adjunct researcher of an IC (or equivalent position) will have the right to apply for telescope time with an appointment (physical stay at the institution) of at least half-time. This excludes telescopes to which the adjunct researcher has access through institutions that are not IC (excluding ‘open skies’ access). The Department Director (or equivalent) in this cases must inform SOCHIAS which is the adjunct researcher’s primary institution. Retired or emeritus professors will automatically be classified in this category.

  6. Institutions such as UMI/CASSACA: In treaties already signed by CONICYT or another representative of Chile (UMI/CASSACA) and in future treaties of this kind, the researchers from the institution (that do not fulfill rule 1) will be considered visiting professors and therefore adhere to rule 4.

  7. Exceptions: Any case that is not included in these rules can be considered through an enquiry to the President of SOCHIAS. The SOCHIAS board will look into the enquiry and will resolve along with the corresponding Department Director (or equivalent).

This guide and its performance will be revised after two years, to be updated if need be.

* The list sent periodically by the Department Director to the SOCHIAS board, is considered as a letter of support to the corresponding graduate students.