doi.eso.org

• Guiglion, Guillaume [Leibniz-Institut für Astrophysik Potsdam (AIP), Germany]
• Battistini, Chiara [Zentrum für Astronomie der Universität Heidelberg/Landessternwarte, Germany]
• Bell, Cameron P. M. [Leibniz-Institut für Astrophysik Potsdam (AIP), Germany]
• Bensby, Thomas [Lund Observatory, Lund University, Sweden]
• Boller, Thomas [Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik, Garching, Germany]
• Chiappini, Cristina [Leibniz-Institut für Astrophysik Potsdam (AIP), Germany]
• Comparat, Johan [Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik, Garching, Germany]
• Christlieb, Norbert [Zentrum für Astronomie der Universität Heidelberg/Landessternwarte, Germany]
• Church, Ross [Lund Observatory, Lund University, Sweden]
• Cioni, Maria-Rosa L. [Leibniz-Institut für Astrophysik Potsdam (AIP), Germany]
• Davies, Luke [International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research/University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia]
• Dwelly, Tom [Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik, Garching, Germany]
• de Jong, Roelof S. [Leibniz-Institut für Astrophysik Potsdam (AIP), Germany]
• Feltzing, Sofia [Lund Observatory, Lund University, Sweden]
• Gueguen, Alain [Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik, Garching, Germany]
• Howes, Louise [Lund Observatory, Lund University, Sweden]
• Irwin, Mike [Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, UK]
• Kushniruk, Iryna [Lund Observatory, Lund University, Sweden]
• Lam, Man I [Leibniz-Institut für Astrophysik Potsdam (AIP), Germany]
• Liske, Jochen [Hamburger Sternwarte, Universität Hamburg, Germany]
• McMahon, Richard [Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, UK]
• Merloni, Andrea [Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik, Garching, Germany]
• Norberg, Peder [Department of Physics, Durham University, UK]
• Robotham, Aaron S. G. [International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research/University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia]
• Schnurr, Olivier [Leibniz-Institut für Astrophysik Potsdam (AIP), Germany; Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory, Bologna, Italy]
• Sorce, Jenny G. [Leibniz-Institut für Astrophysik Potsdam (AIP), Germany; Centre de Recherche Astrophysique de Lyon (CRAL), Observatoire de Lyon, Saint-Genis-Laval, France]
• Starkenburg, Else [Leibniz-Institut für Astrophysik Potsdam (AIP), Germany]
• Storm, Jesper [Leibniz-Institut für Astrophysik Potsdam (AIP), Germany]
• Swann, Elizabeth [Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation, University of Portsmouth, UK]
• Tempel, Elmo [Leibniz-Institut für Astrophysik Potsdam (AIP), Germany; Tartu Observatory, University of Tartu, Estonia]
• Thi, Wing-Fai [Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik, Garching, Germany]
• Worley, C. Clare [Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, UK]
• Walcher, C. Jakob [Leibniz-Institut für Astrophysik Potsdam (AIP), Germany]
• The 4MOST Collaboration

The current status of and motivation for the 4MOST survey strategy, as developed by the Consortium science team, are presented here. Key elements of the strategy are described, such as sky coverage, number of visits and total exposure times in different parts of the sky, and how to deal with different observing conditions. The task of organising the strategy is not simple, with many different surveys that have vastly different target brightnesses and densities, sample completeness levels, and signal-to-noise requirements. We introduce here a number of concepts that we will use to ensure all surveys are optimised. Astronomers who are planning to submit a Participating Survey proposal are strongly encouraged to read this article and any relevant 4MOST Survey articles in this issue of The Messenger such that they can optimally complement and benefit from the planned surveys of the 4MOST Consortium.