For example, in 2012A Gemini North alone
serviced 743 ToO triggers! It was good to see
that the triggers through the semester, on
both telescopes, became more evenly distributed through the semesters, rather than
large numbers being triggered near the end
(when we have little chance of executing
them all). We’re grateful to PIs for keeping on
top of their ToO programs in this way.
Every semester, the Gemini Board places two
limits on the amount of science time to be
delivered: (1) the minimum requirement; and
(2) a goal to be met if possible (science time
is everything that is left after removing engineering and commissioning time). In 2012,
both telescopes exceeded the requested
minimum science time.
Gemini North delivered science time close to
or in excess of the Board’s goals in both semesters, and in 2012B Gemini South comfortably exceeded it, albeit with the unwelcome
assistance of cancelled instrument commissioning time being returned to the queue.
Weather losses on Cerro Pachón were significantly lower for the year than on Mauna Kea.
The year 2012 was eventful for Gemini Operations. With the new facility instrumentation
operational at Gemini South (and GPI delivering to the telescope in mid-year), visiting
instruments at Gemini North, and the bedding in of eavesdropping and the ramp-up
of work on base-facility operations, both the
Observatory and its users have a lot to look
forward to in 2013.
Andy Adamson is Gemini’s Associate Director of
Operations and can be contacted at:
[email protected]
Contributing authors from Gemini’s staff: Sandy
Leggett, Chris Yamasaki, Inger Jørgensen, Bernadette Rodgers, Rodrigo Carrasco, and Benoit
Neichel
16
GeminiFocus
April2013