NGSC at the January 2008 AAS Meeting
The NOAO Gemini Science Center (NGSC) was part of the larger NOAO booth at the January 2008 AAS meeting in Austin. Most NGSC staff from Tucson and La Serena attended the meeting and were available to help PIs with their Phase IIs and to answer questions from the community. Posters highlighted NGSC staff contacts, the Gemini Science Archive, and the Gemini North Laser Guide Star System. Brochures were available on Flamingos-2, GMOS, Michelle, NICI, NIFS, NIRI, Phoenix, T-ReCS, TEXES, How to Propose for US Time on Gemini, Tips on the Gemini Proposal Process, and Tips on the Gemini Phase II Process.
NGSC is different from the other branches of NOAO in that we seldom meet our users. Since the AAS meeting is one of the few opportunities that we have to meet people in person, we wanted to encourage people to come by our booth. To do this, we had a raffle for a $250 Amazon gift certificate. NOAO also had a raffle, and there was good synergy between them. Entry into the NGSC raffle required filling out a raffle ticket and an anonymous questionnaire that elicited feedback on observing with Gemini. Over 200 questionnaires were submitted. At 2:00 p.m. on Friday several NGSC staff randomized the lottery tickets and Nicole van der Bliek of NOAO South drew out the winning ticket; the winner was Matt Richter of UC-Davis.
Pictures
- Activity at the NOAO booth; NGSC is on the left
- The NGSC display
- Phase II Help
- More Phase II Help
- Raffle frenzy
- Nicole van de Bliek draws the winning NGSC raffle ticket
Posters
Brochures
- Mid-Infrared Instruments
- Near-Infrared Instruments
- Optical Instruments
- Other
