At least one guest observer familiar with observations with optical/infrared telescope is expected to be present at CREST beginning at least 12 hours before the observations start and until at least 12 hours after the observations are completed.

Guest House accommodation and canteen facility are available at CREST. Please book in advance giving arrival and departure details to transport@iiap.res.in.

All bills must be settled before leaving CREST. The nearest restaurant and shopping area are in Hosakote town, 5.5 km from CREST. Guest Observers are hence advised to bring with them all their special requirements.

Transit accommodation may be possible at the Koramangala campus of IIA, if booked sufficiently in advance. Guest Observers may contact dean.office@iiap.res.in for the same

There is daily transport service available between IIA, Koramangala and CREST, Hosakote. Guest Observers may make use of this facility by prior booking (transport@iiap.res.in). The transport schedule is as follows:

Those who wish to reach CREST on their own may first reach Hosakote and then proceed to CREST as follows:
Follow Old Madras Road for about 2 km.
Take Chintamani diversion to the left and proceed for about 2 km.
When the road forks, a signboard of IIA is seen; keep left to proceed on Jangamakote Road.
Look for CREST main gate at the left, soon after passing by the Chilling Plant of Milk Federation.

Typically 0.5 to 1 GB of data are produced per night of observation. The data are downloaded during the day. Observers should bring their own data storage media to copy their data. They should also allow for sufficient time to copy the data before they leave CREST.

All observers are requested to fill in the HCT Log Form.

All the data will be archived. While the observation details will be made public, data will be made available on request, only with the consent of the PI/Co-PI of the proposal.

IRAF and STSDAS will be available to Guest Observers on PCs with linux operating system for data reductions at CREST.

The Target of Opportunity observations form a part of Assured Time Programme of Indian Astronomical Observatory. Such observations will be coordinated by the proposers of the accepted ToO proposals and some of the allotted time may be used for this purpose. The proposer(s) of the ToO are to request the consent of the observer allotted the night for use of the observing time.

Under special circumstances, TAC may seek allotted time under “Director’s Discretionary Time (DDT)”. Allotted time used under DDT will be suitably compensated.

All publications resulting from HCT should have an acknowledgement of the form:

"We thank the staff of IAO, Hanle and CREST, Hosakote, that made these observations possible. The facilities at IAO and CREST are operated by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore."

Information about publications using HCT data may be sent to

The Chairman,
Time Allocation Committee,
Himalayan Chandra Telescope,
Indian Institute of Astrophysics,
Bangalore 560034
E-mail: htac@iiap.res.in