The possibility to recommend unanticipated TOO observations is open
to all astronomers worldwide.
Astronomers who detect a suitable event are strongly encouraged to
send a recommendation via the TOO alert page at:
http://xmm2.esac.esa.int/external/xmm_sched/too/too_alert.shtml
Receipt of an urgent recommendation immediately initiates the process of a
technical review, a decision to interrupt the XMM-Newton programme and,
if accepted, the observation of the proposed target.
For non urgent requests, this process may be initiated only in the next working day.
The Project Scientist decides about data rights and the proprietary period
of data resulting from unanticipated TOO observations.
Unanticipated TOO observations which do not violate data rights of accepted
proposals may be made public after successful Observation Data File (ODF)
generation.
The basis of the decision is the information provided, as well as the time
when the recommendation arrived at the SOC.
Follow-up observations of TOO events which occurred after the deadline
of a call are explicitly covered by the policy described above.