Liverpool Telescope Oversight

Although the Liverpool Telescope (LT) is owned by Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), its operation and performance are monitored and advised by a number of internal and external bodies.

(In addition, LT users past and present are encouraged to send us feedback on their LT experience at any time using this form.)

LT Time and Allocation Advisory Group

During the twice-yearly time allocation meetings, the LT-TAAG also consider programmatic issues pertaining to the current use and future direction of the LT. It evaluates and comments upon the day-to-day operations of the telescope, the performance of its instruments, and the productivity of the observatory as a whole.

The current membership of the group is:

LT-TAAG Membership
Name	Institution
Stephen Hamer	University of Bath (chair)
Steven Parsons	University of Sheffield
Joseph Lyman	University of Warwick
Megan Schwamb	Queen's University Belfast
Michael Healy	Liverpool John Moores University

LT Internal User Meeting

Members of staff at the LJMU Astrophysics Research Institute are also able to communicate their views on the performance of the LT via an internal User Meeting. This meeting occurs twice a year, usually just before the proposal deadline, and is currently chaired by Prof. Matt Darnley.

Allocation of Telescope Time

Telescope time is allocated by a number of Time Allocation Groups (TAGs):

U.K. time

This is allocated by STFC's Panel for the Allocation of Telescope Time (PATT):

• Stephen Hamer (University of Bath) (chair)
• Steven Parsons (University of Sheffield)
• Joseph Lyman (University of Warwick)
• Daniel Perley (Liverpool John Moores University representative)

Their terms of reference are described here.

Internal LJMU time

This is available to members of LJMU's Astrophysics Research Institute (ARI) through a separate allocation. Proposals are evaluated alongside PATT proposals by the PATT TAG, though time is allocated by the ARI board. The current LJMU representative on the PATT TAG is Dr Michael Healy.

Spanish time

This is allocated by the Comision de Asignacion de Tiempos of the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias - the IAC CAT. The various CAT TAG members are listed here.

International time

This is available to non-UK and non-Spanish PIs through the OPTICON Trans-National Access programme, and through the International Scientific Committee (CCI).

For further details on these time allocation groups, and guidance on how (and where) to apply for telescope time, please use the "Proposal Instructions" link on the sidebar.

Last updated: 10 Nov 2022