Access to ENO under the auspices of the EC

The Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) and its observatories (the Observatorio del Teide, on Tenerife, and the Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos, on La Palma) make up a Spanish research and observational centre, which constitute the European Northern Observatory (ENO).

Observing time at the telescopes installed at ENO is offered to the European astronomical community under the auspices of the European Commission of the European Union

The EU «Improving Human Research Potential Programme» gives users the possibility to carry out observing runs at the ENO telescopes via the standard peer-review selection process. All EU citizens accessing the facilities, and meeting the criteria of eligibility, will receive free access, including scientific, technical and logistical support, as well as funding to cover travel, accommodation and subsistence costs on site. You will find here an outline of this EC programme for access to ENO.

EC funding to cover travel and subsistence expenses is available for research teams awarded time under the auspices of the European Commission. In general terms, this funding, in the form of a grant, will be awarded to one astronomer per observing run to allow presence on site during the observations. Information on how to apply for a grant, the criteria of eligibility and the available support can be found here.

Certain criteria of eligibility apply to those astronomers interested in obtaining time at the ENO telescopes under the auspices of the EC. Applicants meeting these criteria will find here procedures and guidelines to apply for observing time under this EC programme.

All the application forms necessary to apply for observing time under this European Commission Programme through the different Time Allocation Committees, as well as Project Reports and other forms requested by the EC before and after the observing run, can be quickly downloaded from here.

Receiving your opinion, once you have carried out your observing run at the European Northern Observatory, is very important for us to improve this service. Let us know how your observing campaign proceeded, how was the quality of the scientific and technical support you received, the facilities and services offered to you, your opinion on this Web... whatever!

A battery of telescopes at the European Northern Observatory (ENO) is offered to the European astronomical community. Full details on each of these night time and solar telescopes - location, calls for proposals, observing periods, deadlines and other relevant information - are summarized here. Applicants are invited to submit their proposals to the telescope operators/owners. All these telescope operators/owners are full members of the ENO consortium.

Scientific and technical support is offered without reserve to EU users. The IAC and all the research institutions operating telescopes at ENO provide well experienced Support Astronomers and technicians to help you during the observations.

Quick access to the home pages of the telescope operators at the European Northern Observatory, other astronomical research institutions, major research infrastructures supported by the European Commission and links on EC Programmes are available here.