Gemini staff contributions
On the Horizon
GEMMA is making progress on several fronts; visiting
instrument MAROON-X may complete commissioning in time
for the 2020A Call for Proposals; GHOST successfully completes
its second round of on-sky testing, including its interoperability
with the Observatory Control System; and SCORPIO is being
readied for its Critical Design Review.
GEMMA’s Out of the Gate
In the new year, the Gemini in the Era of Multi-Messenger Astronomy (GEMMA) program
is off to a good start. Gemini North Adaptive Optics (GNAO) Principal Investigator Gaetano
Sivo formed an external Gemini AO working group to provide community experience and
expertise regarding the Observatory’s AO program, including developing science cases,
technical recommendations, and best practices. The Real Time Computer project is per-
forming some technology trade studies and considering whether some components can
be designed and built in-house.
The time-domain astronomy (TDA) project is also moving along, convening a working group
to review user stories related to the concept of operations. In addition, Public Information
and Outreach plans to hold a Time-Domain Astronomy Summit later this year; the goal is to
bring together scientists and communications and education professionals to create a road-
map on how to communicate the concepts of MMA and TDA to non-scientists. The program
continues to define short- and long-term benefits of the individual projects to the future of
Observatory operations and the astronomy community. Dave Palmer has joined the team
to work as Project Manager for both the GNAO and RTC GEMMA efforts. He will be working
April 2019
GeminiFocus
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