am happy to welcome back both the Differential Speckle Survey Instrument, responsible for the sharpest images ever obtained by
Gemini at visible wavelengths, and the Texas
Echelon Cross Echelle Spectrograph, which
will offer powerful mid-infrared capabilities
to our user community.
The Operations Front
On the operations front, a yearly call for large
programs is being set up in addition to the
regular semesterly call for proposals. Studies are also underway to establish a process
for the fast turnaround of proposals. In the
future, Gemini users will have multiple avenues to apply for observing time optimally
suited for all types of science projects.
I am particularly pleased, that the time exchange program with the Subaru telescope
is now based on a firm agreement. The minimum time exchanged between Gemini and
Subaru in 2013B was increased again resulting in at least five nights on Subaru available
to the Gemini community.
As we carefully prepare for remote observing from the Base Facilities (and later from
other points as well), eavesdropping has become almost routine. Remote observing and
eavesdropping will enhance classical and
queue observing, respectively. A fair number of users have already been contacted
during their queue observations and experienced the advantages of eavesdropping by
supporting our night crew.
Also noteworthy is that in 2012 Gemini’s on-sky
science time (averaged over both semesters at
both telescopes) averaged 87.25 percent, exceeding the Board-set goal of 86 percent.
tics System completed 12 out of the 13 proposed System Verification programs with
some spectacular results (see the January
Press Release and the cover page of this issue). Gemini is now turning GeMS into a
science machine and is proud to offer this
world-class unique capability to its users for
regular science programs in 2013.
At the same time, FLAMINGOS-2, the nearinfrared spectrograph, has largely recovered
from its catastrophic failure in early 2012
and is being offered in imaging and long-slit
mode in 2013B, with the multi-object mode
soon to follow.
Finally, the Gemini Planet Imager (GPI) has
successfully started a series of acceptance
tests at the University of California Santa
Cruz. First results demonstrate that GPI will
indeed be a world-leading facility instrument! We expect to ship it to Gemini South
in June and see first light in the 3rd quarter
of this year.
Last but not least, Gemini continues not only
to explore the universe, but also to share its
wonders. Gemini led two fantastic outreach
programs in the last months: the Astro-Day
Chile and week-long Journey through the
Universe in Hawai’i.
Read abou [ \