A new category of Director's Discretionary (DD) time proposals is now available. Discovery DD time proposals are defined to support observations of compelling scientific urgency that have the potential to significantly accelerate scientific discovery. Suitable requests include follow up of new findings that provide a critical link in the understanding of phenomena that would have significant impact on the broader field, and small-scale pilot or test observations that, if successful, would have an extraordinary impact on the broader field. Observations in preparation for future Cycle programs, or that lack scientific urgency, are not suitable for Discovery DD proposals.

Discovery DD time proposals should be small, typically less than 10 hours in size, and will undergo the standard DD time review process. Unless the science is highly compelling, proposals requesting significantly more than 10 hours are generally better suited for the standard observing cycle and its Telescope Allocation Committee review process.

Users with questions about this new proposal category are encouraged to contact the JWST Help Desk using the JWST Science Policies card.