At the time that this is being written (early February), the Gemini North Telescope is thought to be within a week or two of first light. For Gemini, first light is not merely an optical milestone, but requires closure of the secondary tip-tilt loop. At this point, the primary and secondary mirrors have been aluminized, the telescope has produced respectable images using a prime-focus wavefront sensor, and the pointing of the telescope has been verified. The f/16 secondary is in place and work is ongoing to control it with the wavefront sensors in the acquisition and guide unit. A borrowed near-IR imager, QUIRC (from the Institute for Astronomy), is mounted on the telescope for these initial optical commissioning activities.
A dedication of the Gemini North telescope is scheduled for 25-26 June 1999. USGP expects to issue the first call for proposals at the end of 1999, with proposals being due (through the standard NOAO process) at the end of January 2000. Operations handover, at which the telescope is deemed ready for scientific use, is scheduled for June 2000.
Todd Boroson