To find Hubble proposals, use MAST’s HST Abstract Search or its annual accepted-proposal catalog. For JWST, start with STScI’s Approved Programs directory and open the relevant cycle or category. You can usually read public program details and an observing summary, but a JWST program listing does not guarantee that its full scientific-justification PDF is publicly available.
Find Hubble observing proposals
MAST offers two ways to find accepted Hubble Space Telescope (HST) proposals: search titles and abstracts, or browse the annual catalog.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Search by title, topic, PI, ID, cycle, or proposal type
Open the MAST HST Abstract Search to search proposal titles and abstracts. You can also filter by investigator name, proposal ID, cycle, and proposal type. The search is case-insensitive. Comma-separated expressions match any listed term by default; prefix a term with + to require it or - to exclude it.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Browse or download the annual accepted-proposal catalog
The HST Proposal Abstracts Catalog lists proposal type, science category, proposal ID, title, principal investigator (PI), and abstract, sorted by descending proposal ID. IDs beginning with a letter designate GTO-reserved programs. MAST constructs this catalog once a year; the version current on October 7, 2026 was constructed on August 3, 2026, so check the catalog itself for its latest date.
#1 Best Overall
Use cycle pages for cycle-specific rules
The HST Cycle 34 call covers November 1, 2026 through October 31, 2027. Its Phase I deadline was April 16, 2026, and has passed. For proposal requirements and process documents, consult the HST proposal policy index, which links to the call, primer, Phase I and Phase II roadmaps, and peer-review information. Check the active cycle page rather than assuming an older roadmap describes current rules.
Find JWST observing proposals
For accepted James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) programs, begin at STScI’s Approved Programs directory. It organizes programs by cycle and category, including General Observer (GO) cycles, joint programs, Director’s Discretionary programs, and calibration programs. Open the relevant group and look for the program ID or a distinctive part of its title to reach program information and any linked public material.
Rank #2
The JWST documentation portal also points to program resources, MAST, and the Duplicate Observation Search Tool. Use the duplicate search when you want to compare proposed observations with observations that are scheduled or completed; it serves a different purpose from searching for a program record.
Recommended Free Tools
What JWST material is public?
Access depends on the specific program record and the kind of document. STScI’s Cycle 6 guidance says the full list of approved programs will be made public after selection; at the time of that guidance, notifications were expected in early to mid-March 2027. STScI’s proposal information documentation distinguishes public proposal information from the scientific PDF attachment: the accepted proposal’s observing description is public, while the PDF’s scientific justification remains exclusive access. Check the individual program page rather than assuming its entire proposal PDF can be downloaded.
How to read a proposal
Read the record from its identifying metadata to its scientific case and then its observing or analysis plan. The exact sections available vary by proposal type.
- Identify the record. Note the observatory, cycle, program or proposal ID, title, proposal category or type, science category or keywords, and PI when shown. HST’s catalog explicitly lists several of these fields; JWST proposal information includes title, abstract, category, cycle, science category, keywords, and proposal PDF details.
- Start with the abstract. It gives a concise account of the scientific goal and why the investigators requested observing time or funding. Treat it as an overview, not the complete technical plan.
- Read the scientific justification. Where available, this explains the relevant background, the research goal and its significance, and why the project matters to astronomy or its subfield.
- Inspect the observation description. Look for targets, instruments, observing modes, exposure strategy, and special requirements. JWST’s public APT Proposal Observing Description is a short operational overview; the PDF’s Description of Observations is fuller but is part of the restricted scientific attachment.
- Look for an analysis plan when relevant. Archival and calibration proposals may explain how existing or calibration data will answer the question and which products or analyses are planned. Required sections differ by proposal type.
- Check program status separately. A proposal describes an intended investigation; its existence does not establish that every observation was scheduled or completed. Check program information and MAST observation records for status. For JWST, the Duplicate Observation Search Tool can help compare observations across proposed, scheduled, and completed work.
Compare proposals without mistaking them for rankings
When evaluating two or more proposals, compare what they are trying to learn and how they plan to do it. This is a practical reading framework, not an official scoring rubric.
- Scientific question and claimed contribution
- Proposal type and cycle
- Target or sample selection
- Requested instruments and observing modes
- Observation design, including exposure strategy and special requirements
- Analysis approach or planned data products, where included
What a proposal can—and cannot—tell you
A proposal is evidence of a planned scientific case and observing strategy, not proof that observations happened as proposed. Public metadata and summaries can explain a program’s purpose and operational outline without providing every section of the full scientific narrative. For JWST in particular, distinguish the public observing description from the restricted scientific justification PDF.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
