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Information on the GBT scheduling process are summarized here.

• Scheduling Process
• Dynamic Scheduling
• Proposal Evaluation Process

Scheduling Process

The procedure we are following in the early operational phases of the GBT while capabilities are still being commissioned is outlined below. As given operational capabilities become more routine, this checkout process may be abbreviated, depending on specific circumstances.

All proposals which have been approved and granted observing time, go through a checkout procedure to determine the feasibility of observations before they can be scheduled.  As part of this process a proposal is placed into one of five queues or lists.

• Awaiting Checkout  Once a proposal has been granted observing time it is placed into this queue.  All proposals start in this queue.  Movement of a proposal off this list indicates the start of the checkout process.
   
• Active Checkout Proposals actively under investigation for feasibility of observations are listed in this queue. In cases where some or all of the proposed observations are feasible, the proposal will be moved to the "schedule" queue. If no part of the proposal is currently feasible (for example, they require a mode or hardware which is not yet available) then the proposal will be placed in the "on hold" queue.
   
• Schedule  When some part (or all) of the proposal is capable of being scheduled, it is placed into this queue. Proposals remain in this category until either they are complete, or are returned to the "active checkout" queue (for those parts of the proposal which were not originally feasible).
   
• On Hold This category is for proposals which have been checked for feasibility, and cannot currently be scheduled. These will be reviewed periodically, and returned to the "active checkout" queue to be reassessed when the required capabilities are made available.
   
• Completed Proposals for which all allocated observing time has been scheduled and completed are placed into this list.

All of the queues are reviewed weekly to ascertain which proposals need and can be moved to another list.  The status of a specific proposal may be found in one of the five queues.

Every attempt is made to schedule observers at least one month in advance to give ample notice so that reservations can be made in a timely manner.

Dynamic Scheduling

Beginning in January 2003 NRAO implemented a limited version of dynamic scheduling to accommodate high frequency observing which is very susceptible to local weather conditions. The scheme currently employed is not a true dynamic scheme but is one based on current limited resources. The procedures and description can be found on the GBT Scheduling page.