Contents:

1) FUSE Cycle 2, NRA dates set
2) Early Release Observations data available
3) Limitations on coordinated or time-critical observations imposed.
4) Special issue of ApJ Letters


1) FUSE Cycle 2, NRA dates set

        The dates associated with the FUSE cycle 2 NRA/call for proposals have
been finalized.  The most important dates are as follows:

NRA release date:                       May 10, 2000
Notice of Intent to propose due:        June 12, 2000
Proposals due:                          July 14, 2000


2) Early Release Observations data available

        A number of data sets acquired under the "Early Release Observations" 
program have now been released to the community through the MAST archive at 
STScI.  These include the following observations:

Program name    Target Name     Target Type/Observation purpose
------------    -----------     -------------------
X005            N49             Supernova remnant
X015            SK108           O star in SMC (ISM)
X017            MRK509          Markarian galaxy (ISM/IGM)
X018            SAND_2          WO star in LMC
X020            AV232           O7 stars in the Magellanic clouds
X020            SK-67D111       O7 stars in the Magellanic clouds
X021            BD+31D643       H2 observations
X021            HD73882         H2 observations
X024            HD5980          Hot star in SMC
X025            HD36705         Cool (emission line) star
X027            GHOVI03         Galactic Halo, O VI background
M101            GD71            White dwarf
M101            GD153           White dwarf
P101            VIIZw118        Seyfert 1 galaxy
P101            PG0804+761      QSO
P107            TONS210         QSO
P107            MRK876          Seyfert 1 galaxy


        To retrieve any of these data sets follow the standard MAST retrieval
procedures.  Instructions can be found at:
 
http://fuse.pha.jhu.edu/archive/archive_help.html



3) Limitations on coordinated or time-critical observations imposed.

        Our ability to maintain the alignment of the four spectrograph 
channels is driven by changes in spacecraft orientation.  In this environment,
any observations that must be performed at a particular time can drive the
scheduling for days on either side of the planned observation.  Thus,
coordinated and time critical observations are disruptive to general 
scheduling.  On April 6th, the FUSE project invoked a temporary policy
placing limitations on such observations until at least July 31, 2000.
Only in cases deemed to have "the highest scientific priority" or which
flow naturally into ongoing scheduling will be accommodated during this time.
For further details see:

http://fuse.pha.jhu.edu/users/coordobs.html


4) Special issue of ApJ Letters

        A total of 21 papers based on the "Early Release Observations" have 
been submitted by the FUSE team to the Astrophysical Journal Letters. These
papers will appear as a special issue late this summer.  Preprints of accepted
FUSE papers are being submitted to the astro-ph preprint server. Links to them
can also be found on the FUSE web site:

http://fuse.pha.jhu.edu/papers/papers.html

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The Observer's Electronic Newsletter is published by the FUSE project
and is aimed at the FUSE user community.

Editor: B-G Andersson, FUSE Guest Investigator Officer.

The FUSE Project is managed by Johns Hopkins University's Center for 
Astrophysical Sciences in Baltimore, MD, for NASA's Goddard Space Flight 
Center.  The FUSE Principal Investigator is Dr. Warren Moos, the FUSE Project 
Manager at JHU is Mr. J.B. Joyce, and the NASA Project Scientist for FUSE 
is Dr. George Sonneborn.

Further information about the FUSE Guest Investigator Program can  be
obtained from:  Dr. George Sonneborn; sonneborn@stars.gsfc.nasa.gov
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