Terms of Services

1. Introduction

Welcome to the New Robotic Telescope (NRT) and Liverpool Telescope (LT) Science Operations and Data Centre (SODC) platform. By accessing or using this website and its services, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Services. If you do not agree to these terms, please do not use our services.

This platform is operated by the Astrophysics Research Institute (ARI) at Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU).

2. Scope of Services

The SODC platform provides the following services:

New Robotic Telescope (NRT)
  • NRT Phase 1 proposal submission
  • Access to NRT science documentation
  • Telescope status and weather monitoring
  • News and outreach content
Liverpool Telescope (LT)
  • LT Phase 1 proposal submission
  • Reactive Time and Z-Time proposals
  • Phase 2 observation scheduling
  • Access to LT operational data
3. User Accounts and Responsibilities

To access proposal submission and other authenticated services, you must register for an account. You are responsible for:

  • Providing accurate and complete registration information, including your institutional affiliation.
  • Maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials.
  • All activities that occur under your account.
  • Notifying us immediately of any unauthorised use of your account.
4. Acceptable Use Policy

You agree to use the platform only for lawful purposes related to astronomical research and telescope operations. You must not:

  • Submit fraudulent or misleading proposals.
  • Attempt to gain unauthorised access to other users' accounts or data.
  • Interfere with or disrupt the platform's infrastructure or services.
  • Use automated tools to scrape or harvest data without prior authorisation.
  • Violate any applicable local, national, or international laws.
5. Intellectual Property and Data Rights

NRT Data: Scientific data obtained through NRT observations remains subject to the NRT data rights policy. Principal Investigators retain a proprietary period as defined by the NRT Telescope Allocation Committee (TAC).

LT Data: Data obtained through LT observations is subject to the existing Liverpool Telescope data rights policy. Proprietary periods and data sharing policies are governed by the relevant TAG agreements.

All website content, logos, and design elements are the property of LJMU/ARI unless otherwise stated.

6. Proposal Submissions

Proposals submitted through this platform are reviewed by the appropriate Telescope Allocation Committee (TAC) or Telescope Allocation Group (TAG). The decision to allocate telescope time is at the sole discretion of the reviewing body. Submission of a proposal does not guarantee allocation of observing time.

7. Limitation of Liability

The platform is provided on an "as is" basis. LJMU and ARI make no warranties regarding the availability, reliability, or accuracy of the platform. We shall not be liable for any loss of data, observing time, or scientific results arising from the use of, or inability to use, this platform.

8. Modifications to Terms

We reserve the right to update these Terms of Services at any time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated effective date. Continued use of the platform after changes constitutes acceptance of the revised terms.

9. Governing Law

These terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

10. Contact

If you have any questions about these Terms of Services, please contact us at NRT@ljmu.ac.uk.

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