Previous Article Next Article Table of Contents
US Gemini Program (1Jun95) (from USGP NOAO Newsletter No. 42, June 1995) Gemini Project Scientist Position Open The International Gemini Project is seeking a Project Scientist to ensure the scientific requirements and objectives are met by the Gemini telescopes and their instrumentation. The Project Scientist will be an employee of AURA and will report to the Project Director. A key aspect of the Project Scientist's qualifications will be the ability to present choices between scientific capabilities within budgetary constraints. The Project Scientist will lead the scientific commissioning of both Gemini telescopes. Therefore, a principal task will be to work with the project team in planning this phase of the project. Additionally, because these telescopes will be scheduled and operated in novel ways, with initially up to 50% of the time allocated as queued observing, the Project Scientist will work with the Director and partner scientific communities to develop a scientific operating plan. Finally, it will be important to maintain a personal research program to retain personal scientific vitality. Interested persons are encouraged to contact the US members of the Search Committee post haste. Jay Gallagher (Wisconsin) Jerry Nelson (Lick Observatory) Mike Werner (JPL) New Observing Modes for the Next Century We are pleased to announce an International Workshop to Consider Innovative Observing and Scheduling Strategies for Modern Large Telescopes, 6-8 July 1995. It will take place at the University of Hawaii at Hilo on the 'Big Island' of Hawaii. The workshop is sponsored by: The Joint Astronomy Centre The US Gemini Program/NOAO The Gemini 8-m Telescopes Project The European Southern Observatory The University of Hawaii at Hilo Observing time with the new generation of large telescopes will be so valuable that the pressure for efficiency may exceed the level up to which the traditional operational paradigms can be developed. The cultural revolution which may be required to satify these requirements has the potential to be a similar intellectual challenge as the scientific frontiers to be explored with these new facilities. The workshop is aimed at facility staff, program managers and the community of observers who will be affected by any changes to traditional observing practices. It is expected that all major Mauna Kea telescopes as well as other ground-based and space-based facilities will be represented. The format of the workshop will be a series of half-day sessions with invited talks, contributed talks, posters and ample time for discussion. There will be several user-interface demonstrations. Sessions will include: New observing modes, the key issues Queue scheduling Quantifying observing conditions Service mode observing Remote observing and eavesdropping Software user interface and data flow Automated data reduction and archiving Scheduling software Time allocation strategies - key projects? The US Gemini Program has a limited amount of funding to support the attendance (registration, travel, accommodations) of participants from US institutions. If you are interested in attending this workshop please see the USGP World Wide Web home page (http://www.noao.edu/usgp/usgp.html) for more information and the electronic registration form or contact: Todd Boroson (tboroson@noao.edu) US Gemini Program NOAO PO Box 26732 Tucson, AZ 85726 (520) 318-8352 (voice) (520) 318-8596 (FAX) US Adaptive Optics Workshop The USGP recently invited a number of US groups involved in adaptive optics to explore issues associated with a future second-generation adaptive optics system for Gemini that would succeed the low-order natural guide star system being developed by Canada for the Gemini North telescope. The workshop participants advised the USGP on the state of the art in laser guide star adaptive optics technologies and systems, future directions in this field, areas which require attention for the successful development of adaptive optics for Gemini and the US astronomy community in general and, also, on how best to involve US groups in the development of the second-generation Gemini adaptive optics system. Brochures, Gemini at AAS in Pittsburgh, Gemini Newsletter The USGP has recently printed a technically updated Gemini brochure. If you would like one mailed to you or some to distribute within your department, please let us know. They will be also be available at the Pittsburgh AAS meeting. Be sure to stop by the Gemini display at the Pittsburgh AAS meeting to discuss your Gemini questions or concerns with us. We also invite you to see the 1/50th scale Gemini model as well as current photos of Gemini fabrication and construction progress. More Gemini Project news is available from the June 1995 issue of the Gemini Project Newsletter. Current information, photos and the newsletter are available on the World Wide Web, URL http://www.gemini.edu. Kathy Wood
Previous Article Next Article Table of Contents