The Caltech Submillimeter Observatory (CSO) encourages observing participation by astronomers from both U.S. and non-U.S. institutions. The observatory consists of a 10.4 m diameter telescope on Mauna Kea, Hawaii. Receivers are available from 200 to 400 GHz with noise temperatures of about 50K (DSB) and from 400 to 730 GHz of about 150K (DSB).  A receiver is available from 780 to 920 GHz with a noise temperature of about 250 K. Available back-ends include AOS spectrometers of about 1000 channels with 1 GHz and 50 MHz bandwidths, as well as a new FFTS spectrometer with 8192 channels and a selectable bandwidth of 1 GHz or 500 MHz. SHARC II, a 12 × 32 pixel bolometer camera for 350 and 450 µm, is available. The camera sensitivity is about 1 Jy/beam, in one second for a 2.5' × 0.9' field of view, in good weather. More information on SHARC II and the heterodyne receivers can be obtained at CSO Instrumentation Page. Atmospheric transmission curves for the CSO, as a function of frequency, are available via a web interface.

Bolocam, a large format bolometric camera for observations at 1.1 and 2.1 mm, is open to proposals (but see the Bolocam web page for restrictions). At 1.1 mm, the camera has approximately 110-120 working pixels with 30" FHWM beamsize and 8' FOV).

The latest version of the CSO Observing Manual is now available as a hypertext document, postscript file  (7.4 Mb), or PDF file (5.4 Mb).

Lodging, subsistence and transportation on the mountain are provided free by the CSO, for two observers per program. A limited amount of travel money may also be available.

Proposals for observing time should include the CSO cover form (please use the latest version available on the web, a short abstract, and a two page scientific justification. In addition, the following information is now required and should be included with each proposal: (1) List of publications by all proposal Co-Is using CSO data (since 2002), (2) List of all students and postdocs who used CSO (since 2002), (3) List of students who obtained a PhD using CSO. The proposals will be reviewed by an external peer group committee and should be sent by 31 May for the observing period 1 September through 31 January, or by 31 October for the observing period 1 February through 31 July to:

T.G. Phillips
Caltech 320-47
Pasadena, CA 91125