GeminiFocus October 2017 | Page 2

1 Director’s Message Laura Ferrarese 3 Rocky Planet Engulfment Explains Stellar Odd Couple Carlos Saffe 7 Astronomers Feast on First Light From Gravitational Wave Event Peter Michaud 11 Science Highlights Peter Michaud 15 On the Horizon Gemini staff contributions 18 News for Users Gemini staff contributions ON THE COVER: Gemini South provided critical observations of the first electromagnetic radiation from a gravitational wave event. (See details starting on page 7.) GeminiFocus October 2017 GeminiFocus is a quarterly publication of the Gemini Observatory 670 N. A‘ohoku Place, Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720, USA / Phone: (808) 974-2500 / Fax: (808) 974-2589 Online viewing address: www.gemini.edu/geminifocus Managing Editor: Peter Michaud Associate Editor: Stephen James O’Meara Designer: Eve Furchgott/Blue Heron Multimedia Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation or the Gemini Partnership. ii GeminiFocus October 2017