JWST General Observers Program
Forecasted
JWST General Observers Program supports the worldwide astronomical community with observing time on the James Webb Space Telescope to carry out competitively selected astronomical research.
Funder: Space Telescope Science Institute
Due Dates (Anticipated): September 2027 (General Observer proposals)
Funding Amounts: Cycle 6: up to 7,700 observing hours across programs; observing cycles generally last one year
Summary: Supports community-proposed astronomical research through competitively allocated observing time with the James Webb Space Telescope.
Key Information: Proposals are selected through dual-anonymous peer review; eligibility for telescope time does not always include funding eligibility.
Description
The JWST General Observers (GO) Program gives the worldwide astronomical community opportunities to propose observations with the James Webb Space Telescope. The Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) manages JWST’s scientific program and selects community proposals through dual-anonymous peer review. Observing time is awarded in recurring science cycles, generally lasting one year, with new calls anticipated annually during science operations.
The Cycle 6 call solicits GO, Survey, and Archival Research proposals, with GO observing time divided among Very Small, Small, Medium, and Large/Treasury programs according to proposal pressure. General Observer observations are distinct from Guaranteed Time Observations and the Director’s Discretionary programs, which address observations with time constraints or exceptional scientific urgency.
