Target of Opportunity

Targets of Opportunity

Welcome to the Swift Gamma Ray Explorer Target of Opportunity Web Site.

Please note: As of April 1st, 2009, Swift Cycle 4 (AO4) is officially closed. GI TOo programs from AO4 can no longer be triggered.

High priority ToO requests should be submitted only in the most urgent cases (ex: galactic supernova). A "Highest Priority" ToO will immediately page the Swift PI and Science Ops team, even in the middle of the night. "High Priority" ToO requests will also page the PI and Science Ops team immediately during daylight hours. "Medium Priority" requests will be handled during daylight hours. "Low Priority" requests will be handled at the daily planning meeting which is 9-10am Eastern Time (USA) M-F.

Data Rights: Unlike most astronomy satellites, the data from Swift are all public immediately. This means that there are no proprietary data rights to data resulting from ToO requests. We therefore encourage you to analyze and publish your results as rapidly as possible following the completion of Swift observations.

Pre-approved ToOs: ToO Requests satisfying the trigger criteria for programs approved through the Swift GI program must be identified by filling in the proposal number at the bottom of the ToO Request page. This is necessary to trigger funding of your proposal.

ToO Evaluation Criteria (revised 16 May 2007):

Does not impair Swift's capability for GRB detection and follow up
Requires fast turn-around observations
Produces high impact science
Makes good use of Swift data, i.e. Swift data are a major component of the results
Requires unique Swift capabilities
Makes use of more than one instrument
Has a target location in the anti-sun direction
The Swift spacecraft can point anywhere in the sky except within 46 degrees of the Sun, 21 degrees of the moon, and 6 degrees of the orbit pole, which precesses slowly. However, TOO requests at high hour angle to the sun are more likely to be approved. Most desirable are those at >9 hours to the sun. The purpose of the anti-sun restriction for ToOs is to keep the observatory pointing as much as possible toward the night sky to optimize follow-up observations of GRBs.
ToO targets at more than 9 hours in RA from the Sun are more likely to be accepted and are observed at high priority when accepted unless they conflict with GRBs or other urgent targets. ToO targets at less than 9 hours may be accepted for scientifically compelling reasons, but are scheduled for limited exposure times of typically <4 ks per day (with 2 ks per day a standard value).

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Swift’s primary mission is to detect Gamma Ray Bursts and observe their afterglow radiation. Swift’s rapid response capabilities make it an ideal observatory for a variety of transient astrophysical sources. This site provides a simple form for requesting Target of Opportunity observations.

Registration: Anyone may request a Target of Opportunity. Requestors are asked to complete a New User Account Form for informational purposes and to simplify entry of future requests. Completion of the ToO Request Form requires a basic understanding of astrophysical sources and the capabilities of Swift’s instruments. Information on the latter is available from the links for the XRT, UVOT and BAT. If you are uncertain of the nature of a celestial phenomenon you have witnessed, please contact your local astronomical society or one of the many astronomical publications for assistance in determining if a Swift ToO should be requested. Contact information is provided by Sky & Telescope and other publishers on their Web sites.

Submitting ToO Request: Requests are relatively simple to complete. Swift’s Burst Alert Telescope selects observing modes autonomously. The X-ray Telescope normally selects observing modes autonomously, but a specific observing mode (either WT or PC) can be requested in the Science Justification if required. The UV-Optical Telescope uses pre-defined observing sequences. You may request specific UVOT filters and modes, subject to a safety check, or leave the selection to the Science Operations Team. Unless otherwise specified, UVOT observations will be performed using the "Filter of the Day" (either U band or one of the 3 UV filters). Special UVOT filter requests can by made in the text box titled "Science Justification, Multiple Observations and Observing Campaigns".

After you submit your request, you will receive an automated acknowledgement within a few minutes, followed by our evaluation and observation plan within one business day (24 hours for time-critical observations).

You must submit a brief scientific justification and feasibility justification in the text box titled "Science Justification, Multiple Observations and Observing Campaigns" to facilitate evaluation of your request. This justification can include links to figures if they are essential to support your request. Science justifications can be viewed only by the Swift PI and operations team - they are not made publicly available.

ToO Evaluation: ToO requests are evaluated for visibility by Swift’s instruments, utilization of Swift’s unique characteristics, and potential impact on autonomous and pre-scheduled observations. ToOs are approved by the Swift PI using the evaluation criteria listed above.

Swift Team Contacts: You may be contacted by the Swift Observatory Duty Scientist (ODS) for further information needed to schedule your request. If you need to contact the ODS to provide supplemental information regarding your request, please use the swiftods@astro.psu.edu email address, since the ODS is a rotating position and the individual who contacts you may not be on duty when you reply.

You may also be contacted by the Swift team to inquire about collaboration if your TOO observation is related to ongoing team research. You are free to reply or not to such contacts at your preference.

GRBs: ToO requests may be made to follow up Gamma Ray Bursts detected by other satellites. We do receive the GCN notices of such events, but appreciate knowing of special circumstances for which immediate Swift followup is desirable.

For further information on Swift Target of Opportunity requests, please contact the Observatory Duty Scientist at swiftods@astro.psu.edu. The Swift PI can be contacted by phone in extremely urgent cases (301-526-9288). Note that high priority TOO requests result in the Swift Science Ops Team and the PI being notified of the request immediately, so phone contact should not be necessary in normal circumstances.