The new FUSE control system is working well and many programs have been obtaining data in the last two months on targets with declinations above +40 and below -40 degrees. Although we are very optimistic that many lower declination targets will be observed in the future, this number is currently uncertain since our capabilities to perform observations of targets closer to the celestial equator are still being characterized. In general, longer observations at low declinations will be more difficult to accomplish than shorter observations.

It is clear that the majority of future FUSE targets and exposure time will be at higher declinations and that lower declination observations will be accompanied by substantial scheduling constraints. Our experience is that targets with schedule constraints get delayed. Sometimes, the delays can be long. In this case, you have to decide whether to stick with a previously selected target having important scientific properties, but which may not be observable for some time, or whether to substitute a different target in a more accessible region of the sky.

I want to call your attention to the impending deadline for target list changes for current GI and PI Team observing programs. I will continue to accept requests to change targets until June 15, 2002. After that date the target lists will be frozen until after Cycle 4 programs and targets are selected (early 2003). NASA is planning to release the NRA for Cycle 4 in July 2002 (proposal due date in early October), hence the mid-June cutoff date for target changes for current programs. We will continue to post updated lists of all completed and pending observations on the FUSE web site. Since April 1, 2002, 21 GI programs have changed some or all of their lower declination targets to ones at higher declinations.

Changing from a low declination target to one at high declination should normally be accomplished within your program's original time allocation. The FUSE Observers Advisory Committee has recommended that we consider requests for small amounts of additional observing time to improve the feasibility of observing some of the new high declination targets if they are fainter than the original and no brighter alternative exists. Requests will be accepted to increase exposure times by up a factor of two. The rationale for this is that high declination observations are somewhat more efficient (more exposure time per orbit), hence there is more time available. Any request for additional exposure time must be accompanied by a strong scientific justification. These requests will carefully scrutinized and reviewed by NASA.

We have been processing grants for Cycle 3 GI programs for over a month now. Priority is being given to programs with targets that have already been observed or are about to be observed. We expect to receive full funding for the Cycle 3 GI programs, but have only half of the necessary funds this fiscal year.

Sincerely,

George Sonneborn
FUSE Project Scientist

Dr. George Sonneborn      
FUSE Project Scientist                                Telephone: 301-286-3665
Laboratory for Astronomy and Solar Physics                  Fax: 301-286-1753
Code 681                                email: george.sonneborn@gsfc.nasa.gov
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center           FUSE site: http://fuse.pha.jhu.edu
Greenbelt, MD 20771                GI pgm: http://fusewww.gsfc.nasa.gov/fuse/