There is no specific order required to fill the different sections. Yet, you can find below a series of videos and documentation that suggest a proper way to prepare a Gemini proposal using PIT.
NOTE that links in the text below lead to a separate page (PIT components) with details on the different sections and elements. Also, all the videos can be viewed from a single playlist.
While the basic process depicted in the videos is correct, some details have changed. See the PIT Description for the latest information.
If anything remains unclear, please contact the help desk (you can also email us at sus_inquiries@gemini.edu, but this address will be deactivated on 9/1/23).
The Overview section, visible from the first time PIT is opened, contains the fields to enter:
Additional information can be found about the PDF Attachment.
Please find also details about the Menu Bar (at the top of PIT), and the Problems section (at the bottom of PIT).
Can't see well? Get to a full size video in a separate window.
00:25
00:40
01:10
01:29
01:50
02:25
03:35
05:07Menu bar
Problems section
Title and Abstract
TAC category
Keywords
Attachment (including Science and Technical Justifications)
Entering PI and Co-I information
Save your work
The Observations section is the one that is up the first time PIT is opened. It contains all the details on:
Can't see well? Get to a full size video in a separate window.
00:30 Targets section
00:35
01:29
02:56Adding sidereal targets (one by one)
Adding non-sidereal targets (one by one)
Importing target list
04:05 Observations section
04:26
05:03
05:32
06:05Weather conditions
Resource (instrument and set-up)
Including targets
Setting requested time
08:09
09:40
11:38Checking guide star, visibility and archive duplicates
Preparing more than one weather condition or resource
Export targets into a file
The Time Allocations Committees will first see if your proposal can be given a Band 1 or a Band 2 program. If the result comes negative, your program may be considered for Band 3.
If your project contains observations that can be taken under relaxed weather conditions (e.g., IQ85% and/or CC85%), that have a R.A. coordinates that are not the most popular and you have no constraints on the scheduling, you can prepare them under the Band 3 section.
Can't see well? Get to a full size video in a separate window.
00:11
01:04
01:26What makes a good Band 3 proposal
Enabling Band 3 option
Preparing Band 3 targets
01:43
01:58
02:21Copy and paste from the Observations section
Relaxing the weather conditions
Increasing the exposure time
The Scheduling and the Time Requests sections are accessible through tabs visible uner the same pane where the Overview section is.
The Scheduling section is used to communicate any releavant information to the Time Allocation Committees about the timing constraints for your targets. It can be specific times when an event is expected, useful information about a non-siderial target, constraints on a classical observer availability, etc.
The Time Requests section is used to determine which TAC(s) to send the proposal to, and how much time to each TAC is requested.
Can't see well? Get to a full size video in a separate window.
00:25 Time Requests section
00:33
02:18
04:40
04:56Proposal class (Classical, Fast turnaround, ...)
Request for Band 3 time
ToO status
Request type (Partner vs Exchange)
05:22
06:40Filling requested time
Scheduling constraints
The Submit section tells if a proposal is ready to submit. If it is not, please refer to the Problem section to see what remains to be fixed. Once everything is in order, the "Submit this Proposal" becomes available.
Can't see well? Get to a full size video in a separate window.
00:15
00:25
00:53
01:09Submit section
What to do if there still are errors
Submit!
Reuse proposal