OUO PROPOSAL REVIEW FORM



PI: ***************
REVIEWER: **************


Strengths:

1. The target of the project is M82 -- a large, bright and
   well-studied object.

2. The project consists of two more or less independent parts (H-alpha and
   V-I observations) and so even if part of the observations (say V-I) have
   to be sacrificed because of some observational emergency, the leftover
   will still be a sound project.

3. Shooting from simply measuring L_Halpha to estimating SFR of the galaxy,
   though obviously model dependent, is a bold and clever way of using the
   equipment available.

4. Both project tasks are based upon important and interesting problems of
   modern astrophysics and so aren't just "training tasks". Their
   successful accomplishment will be an interesting educational and scientific
   experience.

5. Exposure time calculations seem to be adequate and accurate.


Weaknesses:

1. Even excluding the standard star observations the estimated working time for
   a "full-size" project is 290 min and is not only more than realistically
   available for one researcher, but also more than the time when the primary
   target is above 2 airmasses during an observational night. So the project is
   undoable in one night even theoretically.

   Although the author suggests to save time doing only one 10 min image in V
   and I filters (subsequently leading to S/N = 7 in these bands) in my opinion
   this: a) undermines the scientifical soundness of the task of intrinsic
   reddening compensation (requiring as precise as possible measurement of V-I
   index); b) is too risky, as if even one of these 10 min images is compromised
   the observation is a failure.

2. I wasn't persuaded by the proposal, that a reasonably accurate estimation
   of the extinction could be done by the equipment and observational time
   available.