The TRACE team is committed to supporting multi-instrument, joint observations. In order to enhance these studies we have the following suggestions for requesting coordinated observations with TRACE.

1. TRACE encounters eclipse seasons where its ability to obtain uninterrupted image sequences is limited. During these periods the number of joint observing programs that TRACE will be able to support is greatly reduced. Below are the current predictions for TRACE eclipse seasons in DOY/Year and YY-MMM-DD formats.
1. 275/06 - 053/07           2006-OCT-02 -  2007-FEB-22
2. 132/07 - 192/07           2007-MAY-12 -  2007-JUL-11
3. 256/07 - 065/08           2007-SEP-13  -  2008-MAR-05
4. 101/08 - onward         2008-APR-10  -  onward
   
   
2. In order to request joint observations with TRACE email trace_planner at lmsal.com. It is always helpful to request observations well in advance of the date of the observations. A quick email reminder a week or so before the observations is also appreciated.
   
   
3. A brief description of the science that you hope to achieve with the observations will help us prepare the observation program.
   
   
4. The TRACE planner must have the pointing information and any changes to the observation program before 15:00 UT the day before the observations are to be taken.
   
   
5. For observations on the weekend and Mondays the pointing information and any changes to the observation program must be submitted before 15:00 UT on the proceeding Friday.  If there is a US holiday on a Monday then the planner needs all information for Saturday, Sunday, Monday & Tuesday by 14:00 UT on the proceeding Friday.
   
   
6. Explicitly state the coordinates on the Sun and the system of units being used. By default TRACE uses Heliocentric-Cartesian Coordinates. If using coordinates from another instrument, please name the instrument and the time the coordinates were taken. This will help us calculate the proper pointing for TRACE.
   
   
7. The quadrant shutter has exhibited erratic behavior that can cause the instrument to cease taking data. The undesired behavior is strongly correlated with the rapid switching of observation wavelengths. It is strongly suggested that you design your observing program to minimize the switching of observation wavelengths, Please designate which wavelengths are the most vital to the research that you wish to carry out.
   
   

Helpful websites:

1. The TRACE main page is at http://trace.lmsal.com/.
   
2. You can familiarize yourself with the TRACE bandpasses at http://trace.lmsal.com/Project/Instrument/inspass.htm. 
   
3. The current TRACE planning schedule can be found at http://chippewa.nascom.nasa.gov/TRACE/current_plan.txt.
   
4. Instructions for the preparation and analysis of TRACE data using SolarSoft can be found here: http://trace.lmsal.com/tag/.
   
5. The TRACE data catalog is here: http://trace.lmsal.com/trace_cat.html.  TRACE data can also be downloaded via the Virtual Solar Observatory, http://sdac.virtualsolar.org/cgi-bin/search. 
   
6. For a look at a recent TRACE observation with a brief description by a member of the TRACE team, check out the TRACE Picture of the Day at http://trace.lmsal.com/POD/TRACEpod.html.