Observing@VST

Applying for observing time

VST P3

Applications for observing time 

Period: new yearly cycle!

October 1, 2024 - September 30, 2025

We have received 22 proposals! 

The accepted proposals are listed here

The next call for proposals is expected in April 2025


Proposal types & observing modes

ToO includes unpredictable astronomical events that require immediate observations, and known transient phenomena. 

DDT proposals can be submitted anytime, for urgent and high-impact science cases or pilot projects.

Observations are executed in Service Mode (SM). For NPs, slots of Visitor Mode (VM) can also be requested.

For SP-Young, observations of the first ranked project can be executed in VM, and travels and lodging are covered by the VSTCentre.

Who can apply? Time allocation policy

For LPs, NPs, ToO and DDT: the Principal Investigator (PI) and at least half of the participants must be affiliated to an Italian Institution (INAF, Universities or other public Italian research institutes). Up to 50% of the total number of applicants might be scientists belonging to foreign institutions. 

For the SP-young, the PI must be an Italian PhD student or a young post-doc (i.e., at the 1st post-doctoral fellowship or no more than 3 years from the PhD) affiliated to ANY Italian or foreign institution.

Proposals that do not fulfil the above requirements will not be evaluated by the Time Allocation Committee (TAC).

Proposal prepation & submission

To apply for the VST observing time

Please, consult this link to compute how many dark nights are available in the P3 cycle


Proposal evaluation

All the submitted proposals, received by the deadline, will be evaluated according to the following steps:

Publications & Data Release

According to the Art.6 of the INAF-ESO agreement, PIs of the accepeted proposals are asked to consider the following rules: