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2025B Call for Proposals

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Gemini Observatory invites its community to propose scientific investigations for the 2025B semester, 1 August 2025 - 31 January 2026.

The table below shows submission deadlines for all Gemini Participants, and the Subaru community under the Gemini/Subaru time exchange. Multi-participant joint proposals should be submitted by the deadline of the participant country to which the Principal Investigator is affiliated. For more on the Gemini proposal submission and time allocation process, please consult the Phase I page.

Participant Submission Deadline
United States March 31, 2025 at 23:59 (Mountain Standard Time)
Canada April 02, 2025 at 16:00 (Pacific Daylight Time)
Brazil April 03, 2025 at 23:59 (Brazilian Time)
Argentina April 01, 2025 at 17:00 (Argentina Time)
Korea March 31, 2025 at 23:59 (Korea Standard Time)
Chile April 01, 2025 at 23:59 (Chile Standard Time)
Univ. of Hawaii April 01, 2025 at 10:00 (Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time)
Subaru Community March 31, 2025 at 23:59 (Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time)
= April 01, 2025 at 18:59 (Japan Standard Time)

The Call is open to all participants and host institutions:

US time is open to all astronomers worldwide including those at non-US institutions, although in that case, the proposal must explain why U.S. national facilities are needed. 


Time Available in 2025B

A summary of the time distribution at each telescope is shown in the Table below. More information is available in the time distribution section of this Call for Proposals. At Gemini North, 128 nights are expected to be available for science. At Gemini South, 159 nights are expected to be available for science.

Participant/Type  North hours  South hours Notes Participant/Type  North hours  South hours Notes
US* 483 548 US open skies policy allows PIs from any country to apply. Director's Discretionary 55 69 Open to any astronomer.
Canada** 132 164 Fast Turnaround 102 123 Open to PIs from US, CA, AR, BR & KR. Not open to UH or CL.
Argentina 19 24 Large and Long 161 200 Pre-allocated in A semesters. In B semesters, open to US and CA PIs.
Brazil 60 76 Guaranteed Time 48 60 For the MAROON-X, GHOST & speckle instrument teams.
Korea 68 84 Engineering 560 250
Univ. of Hawaii (host) 123
Chile (host) 153
* The US time available is an estimate that includes deductions for the Gemini Large and Long Programs, the US Long Term programs, and the US space mission support programs.
** The CA time available includes a deduction for the Gemini Large and Long Programs.

New and Notable in 2025B

The following capabilities and announcements are notable for the 2025B semester. Please see the relevant instrument pages and subsections of the call for proposals for details.

General:

  • All proposals to use Gemini in 2025B must use the 2025B Phase 1 template. When preparing PDF attachments, prospective PIs must follow the proposals template font size requirements in all cases, and avoid using smaller fonts in all sections of Gemini proposals (including in figures and tables).
  • Classical mode observing is offered in semester 2025B for facility instruments only.
  • Priority Visitor mode is offered at both Gemini North and Gemini South; however if circumstances preclude having people on site, then awarded Priority Visitor time will revert to queue. PIs requesting Classical observing must state in their technical justification how the observations could be done in queue mode (with remote eavesdropping for data quality assessment and decision making). The "Bring One, Get One" Student Observer Support Program remains unavailable for semester 25B.
  • Rapid Target of Opportunity (rToO) Proposals: These can be accommodated for most instruments and their modes (and this includes non-LGS modes), subject to instrument availability on the dates upon which observations are triggered.
  • GMOS On-Sky Arcs: GMOS baseline arcs are now taken on sky mixed with the science observations. For details on the updated GMOS arc baseline policy, please see this page.
  • Gemini North Engineering Time:
    • Shutdown time for (i) testing CEM-2 (Control Electronics Module associated with M2) with the existing top end and (ii) regular A&G maintenance. This will be combined into one single shutdown, which is expected to last approximately 5 weeks. We anticipate that the activity could start at the beginning of October, but cannot be precise at the time of this Call. The 25B shutdown will limit the availability of targets that are observable at RA 20 - 23 hours, and alternative targets should be prepared .
    • We also anticipate commencing work in mid-May until October on the GNIRS camera turret and other issues, including reinstating the short-red camera mode, hence GNIRS will not be available for the first two months of the semester 25B . The exact dates for this intervention are still to be determined.
  • Gemini South is expected to be closed for the first 15 nights of semester 25B (August 01 - 15, 2025). These dates are provisional, and may be subject to change.
  • Gemini North - IGRINS-2: The new IGRINS-2 instrument will be available for shared-risk observations during semester 25B. For further information, please see here.
  • Gemini North - NIFS, NIRI & GRACES: No longer offered.
    Gemini South - GHOST PIs to receive reduced data products: The US NGO, in collaboration with Gemini, will offer reduced spectra for GHOST programs from all partner countries. The reduced files will be available through the Gemini Observatory Archive, together with the raw data.
  • Graduate Student Visitor Program is temporarily suspended in 25B. Details of the Graduate Student Visitor program are available here.


Summary of 2025B Gemini Capabilities

Gemini North

Targets are generally limited to 17 < RA hours < 13.5 and -37 < Dec degrees < +90.  Additional constraints are described in the target accessibility and instrument restrictions page of this Call for Proposals. Note that the RA ranges with limited accessibility near the start and end of the semester are typically in very high demand, and so prospective PIs may wish to consider avoiding targets with these RAs, where possible.

Facility instruments offered in 2025B are:

  • Altair AO system:  Altair is currently unavailable due to an ongoing technical issue. A one-day intervention is scheduled for March 17, 2025. Following the investigation, an update regarding Altair's availability and any potential impact on the telescope will be provided on the Altair Announcements page. Once the issue is resolved, Altair NGS modes will be available (for GNIRS observations, subject to GNIRS availability). Altair LGS will not be available in 25B unless it can be fixed.
  • GMOS North (0.36-1.03 micron imager and spectrometer): Available throughout the semester. The GMOS-N B600 grating will not be offered because of its degraded sensitivity. The R600 grating will only be available for classical observing.
  • IGRINS-2: New high-resolution (R~45,000) near-infrared spectrograph covering the wavelength range of 1.49-1.80μm (H-band) and 1.96-2.46μm (K-band) in a single exposure. Offered in shared-risk mode for semester 25B  during specific blocks, subject to RA demand.
  • GNIRS (1-5 micron spectrometer): Currently anticipated to be available for the period of November - January in 25B (see the preceding “New and Notable” section for further details). When GNIRS becomes available during Semester 25B, it will support all operational modes (imaging, longslit, XD, LR-/HR-IFU, all with the possibility of being AO fed). Additionally, the ShortRed camera is slated for replacement during this intervention. If the replacement is successful, this mode will be offered in Semester 25B on a shared-risk basis.

Visiting instruments offered in 2025B (subject to demand) are:

  • 'Alopeke: A dual-channel fast-readout visual-wavelength camera giving simultaneous diffraction-limited images in two filters over a 2.8 arcsec field of view; as well as a wide-field mode which provides simultaneous two-color imaging in standard SDSS filters over a 60" field of view. The scheduling and length of the 'Alopeke visiting block(s) will be subject to demand. ‘Alopeke may also be available outside those blocks on a best-efforts basis. Targets of Opportunity (Rapid or Standard) are accepted for 'Alopeke, but will only be executed during the instrument blocks.
  • MAROON-X: a high-resolution (R~80,000), optical (500 - 900nm) radial velocity (RV) spectrometer,  is open to the community for high precision RV studies as well as general purpose high-resolution spectroscopy.  Please use the Maroon-X Exposure Time Calculator to evaluate the instrument performance.  It is now also possible to check for MAROON-X target duplication: please see the instructions in the Phase I checklist.

Gemini South

Targets are generally limited to 16 < RA hours < 12 and -90° < Dec degrees < +28°. There are additional constraints as described in the target accessibility and instrument restrictions page of this Call for Proposals. Note that the RA ranges with limited accessibility near the start and end of the semester are typically in very high demand, and so prospective PIs may wish to consider avoiding targets with these RAs, where possible.

Facility instruments offered in 2025B are:

  • GMOS South (0.36-1.03 micron imager and spectrometer): Available throughout the semester. The R600 grating will only be available for classical observing. The B600 grating will not be offered in 25B. Instead, the B480 grating with similar spectral resolution but with better performance can be used.
  • FLAMINGOS-2 (0.9-2.4 micron wide-field imager and spectrometer): Available in imaging, long-slit and MOS modes throughout the semester. For F2MOS observations, pre-imaging is often required, and prospective PIs should factor the additional time needed for this into their proposals.
  • GSAOI (0.9-2.4 micron adaptive optics imager) with the GeMS Adaptive Optics system: Due to guide star limitations, investigators must check the availability of Guide Star constellations using the Observing Tool before submitting a proposal.  Observations in IQ85 are possible for programs that can use delivered images with full-width half-maximum of ~0.2 arcseconds as opposed to the ≤ 0.1 arcseconds delivered in IQ70 or IQ20 conditions. Observations under non-photometric conditions with 0.1 mag uniform extinction are also possible under very good IQ conditions.  The expectation is to have two or three laser runs of 7 nights each during the semester, the actual schedule will be based on the demand from the community.
  • GHOST: A high-resolution optical spectrograph (383–1,000 nm) delivers R~56,000 (standard-res) and R~76,000 (high-res). In 2025B, GHOST is offered in both modes, as well as for non-sidereal targets and faint objects requiring blind offsets. The precision radial velocity mode (with simultaneous calibration) is not offered. Available throughout the semester during scheduled blocks. Potential users should check for updates on the GHOST web pages for further details and status updates.

Visiting instruments offered in 2025B (subject to demand) are:

  • Zorro: a dual-channel fast-readout visual-wavelength camera giving simultaneous diffraction-limited images in two filters over a 2.8 arcsec field of view; as well as a wide-field mode which provides simultaneous two-color imaging in standard SDSS filters over a 60" field of view. The scheduling and length of the Zorro visiting block(s) will be subject to community demand.  Targets of Opportunity (Rapid or Standard) are accepted for Zorro, but will only be executed during the instrument blocks.

Visiting instruments not available in 2025B :

  • IQUEYE: The instrument uses an interferometric approach, combining light from multiple small sub-apertures to achieve high-resolution imaging (in the milliarcsecond range). Observing run is already done (25A). Depending on the performance of the instrument and the quality of the data produced, the IQUEYE PI will decide whether to request a return visit. If they do, the instrument will be offered to the community.


Important Dates for 2025B

The deadline for Phase I submission varies with participant (see the submission deadline Table at the top of this CfP). For successful proposals, both queue and classical, the Phase II submission deadline is 18th July 2025. Check the "Important Dates" page of this Call for Proposals for key dates and events in the proposal process.


Phase I Submission Guidelines for 2025B

Proposals for time on Gemini, and for time on Subaru via the Gemini-Subaru time exchange program, must use the Gemini Phase I Tool (PIT). Latex and Word templates are available to create pdf attachments which include the science and technical cases, and investigator information. The template has been revised to enable the anonymous review process, and to make proposals requirements uniform across the partners. Two attachments are required for the proposal so that team information can be separated from the science case.

All Gemini proposals requesting time from the USCABR, KR or AR must be anonymized. Proposals which do not meet the guidelines will be penalized. This applies to proposals requesting time only from these partners, as well as joint proposals requesting time from multiple participants which include any of these partners. This requirement applies whether it is the PI or a co-I that has the relevant partner affiliation.

Specific Timing Windows: In order to maximize the chances of completing observations with timing windows, 25B proposals should:

  • Provide a clear indication of the need for timing windows at Phase 1. Please provide all timing windows throughout the semester that are associated with your targets. Any additional timing windows requested by PIs after the proposal submission deadline has passed will not normally be approved. Timing windows should be entered in the "Scheduling" section of the PIT. Timing windows must be specified by indicating the start time in UT, followed by the duration (in hours); for example: 2025-11-08 05:38 04.25. Ensure the format follows: yyyy-mm-dd hh:mm hh.hh.
  • Use observing constraints appropriate to the expected conditions. For example, if the only timing window for your proposal occurs during dark time, you should make sure to choose SB20 or SB50 as appropriate. Similarly, if you have a monitoring program with a cadence of a few days, you should define two sets of observations in the PIT, one with SBAny for bright time and another alternative option with SB50 for dark time (to allow for possible changes in sky brightness within the usable period).

Additional options in the Time Requests module in the PIT are available for semester 2025B:

  • The Gemini 2025B Phase 1 Tool includes options to specify that the proposal is for the AEON multi-telescope-facility system. 
  • Also in the 2025B Time Requests module, there is an option to identify proposals which have synergies with James Webb Space Telescope science. The goal for providing this proposal category is to encourage development of science programs that benefit from a combination of Gemini and JWST observations.

Time for baseline partner calibrations is automatically added to the total time requested for each target in the PIT. Investigators should continue to include the time associated with overheads (acquisition time, readout time, etc). The ITC output gives overhead estimates. 'Alopeke and Zorro PIs should include program time for PSF standards if they need them.

Targets of opportunity proposals must include all instrument configurations which the team may want to use, at Phase 1. This enables automatic creation of templates, and avoids errors at Phase 2.


Subaru Exchange Time 

The exchange of time between the Gemini and Subaru communities will continue in 2025B; around 5 nights are expected to be available on Subaru for the Gemini community via the exchange program. Subaru exchange time is open to all Gemini partners, including Chile. A summary of the Subaru capabilities in 2025B is given below, PIs should also consult the Subaru Call for Proposals.

In addition, the Gemini community can propose shorter programs for Subaru's Service mode. PIs must indicate on the proposal whether regular or service time is requested. Service programs must be short programs of less than 4 hours duration including calibration and overheads, using one of IRCS, HDS, FOCAS or MOIRCS. Up to 1 night is expected to be available in this mode for the Gemini community. Prospective investigators must carefully review the Service Program web page. In particular, some additional, detailed technical information must be provided at the time of Phase-1 submission. Service proposals are reviewed by the National TACs together with the regular proposals.

Details:

  • Duplicate Subaru proposals submitted via other routes: If eligible PIs submit a proposal for Gemini Subaru exchange time and also submit the same proposal to a different TAC in parallel (e.g. researchers via the open use time offered in the Subaru Call, Gemini community PIs via the Gemini time-exchange program or Keck community PIs via the Keck time-exchange program), the proposers are asked to explicitly note the double submission in the proposal.
  • Proposal submission: Proposals for time on Subaru via the Gemini time-exchange program are submitted via the normal Gemini Phase I process.
  • HSC/PFS proposal length limits: For semester 25B, Gemini users can request no more than 3.5 nights (35 hours science time including overhead) in the case of HSC?PFS queue, and no more than 5.0 nights in the case of HSC classical requests.
  • Subaru Strategic Programs (SSP): In S25B, PFS-SSP will be assigned about ~10-20 nights over ~3-4 observing runs. IRD-SSP is expected to be completed in S25A.
  • Deformable Mirror (DM) upgrade for AO188: As part of the AO3k project, the DM has been upgraded from a 188-element bimorph mirror to a 3228-actuator magnetic mirror. AO188 provides three modes:
    • NGS/AO188 mode: Uses the 188-element Wave Front Sensor (WFS) + 3k-element DM);
    • LGS/AO188 mode: Uses the 188-element WFS + 3k-element DM;
    • NIRWFS/AO3k mode: Uses the NIR WFS + 3k-element DM.

While the NIR WFS provides high-performance AO correction, NGS and LGS mode performance is unchanged because they use 188-element WFS. Please consult the AO3k web page for more information.

  • Instrument switches during the night: Switching between IRD, REACH, CHARIS, VAMPIRES and Fast PDI during a single or half-night observation is possible. Please check the Subaru Call for Proposals for the time required for switching instruments.
  • Subaru telescope / instrument downtime:
    • There is a possibility of three (3) weeks of downtime after October for repairs to the dome's main shutter.
    • NsIR Downtime: All instruments except for IRD on the NsIR focus - including IRCS, SCExAO(CHARIS, VAMPIRES, FastPDI), and REACH - will be unavailable for about 2-3 months from August. After the installation, all IRCS, SCExAO, and REACH observations will be done with the NBS under shared-risk mode. Please see the IRCS and SCExAO webpage(s) for the possible impacts of the NBS.
  • Subaru instrument and telescope restrictions:
    • The laser guide star (LGS) system for AO188 will be operated with TBAD (Transponder Based Aircraft Detector) with a shared-risk policy. Please consult the AO188 web page for the latest information.
    • The windscreen of the Subaru telescope is out of operation in 2025B, and thus tracking of target may not be possible in high winds. It is recommended that PIs have targets across a range of RAs so that different azimuth angles are available.

Facility instruments offered in 2025B:

Visiting instruments offered in 2025B, are listed below. Proposals to use visiting instruments must include the instrument PIs as Co-investigators

  • CHARIS (with SCExAO + AO188, including spectropolarimetric mode): Coronagraphic High Angular Resolution Imaging Spectrograph - provides high contrast images of exoplanets, disks, brown dwarfs with SCExAO.
  • Fast PDI (in shared-risk mode; with SCExAO + AO188): polarization differential imaging (PDI) with a high speed (>kHz) near-IR (950 - 1860 nm) low-noise camera (C-RED One), optimized for high contrast imaging of circumstellar disks with with SCExAO + AO188
  • IRD - Infrared Doppler (in shared-risk mode; NGS-AO or LGS-AO): infrared high-dispersion, high resolution (up to 70,000) fiber-fed spectrometer. The IRD SSP (Subaru Stragetic Program) was started in 2019A – any IRD proposal must clarify how its scientific aim is different from the SSP. The observing mode REACH (SCExAO + IRD), is available (see below).
  • REACH (combination of SCExAO and IRD for single-mode fiber spectroscopy): REACH can be used simultaneously with CHARIS with any dispersion modes, but the wavelength coverage of CHARIS will be from 1850 nm to the longest wavelengths (please see the CHARIS website for details).
    VAMPIRES: The Visible Aperture Masking Polarimetric Imager for Resolved Exoplanetary Structures (VAMPIRES) is a visible light instrument on the SCExAO system.  Cameras have been upgraded for improved sensitivity, speed and dynamic range. A new multi-band imaging mode is available.
  • NsIR Wave Plate Unit: a visiting device for IRCS/SCExAO polarimetry mode.
  • NIR-WFS: Near Infrared Wavefront Sensor. Located inside the AO188 instead of the visible curvature wavefront sensor of AO188 for SCExAO and IRCS.

CHARIS, Fast PDI and VAMPIRES can be used together at the same time as the modules of SCExAO (Subaru Coronagraphic extreme Adaptive Optics). Please check the relevant instrument web pages for the latest information.


Other Proposal Opportunities in 2025B

Other proposal opportunities are available at Gemini Observatory in 2025B. These include:

  • The Fast Turnaround (FT) Program provides monthly opportunities to submit proposals, with successful programs scheduled for observation starting one month after each proposal deadline. Up to 10% of the time at Gemini North and Gemini South is available for the FT programs. PIs must be members of the Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Korea, the United States or Subaru astronomy communities. The University of Hawaii and Chile do not take part in  the FT program and therefore UH and Chilean PIs do not have access to FT time. 

  • Poor Weather Proposals are solicited for programs that can use poor, but usable, conditions and are executed when nothing in the regular queue is observable. Proposals can be submitted via the normal TAC process (this call) or at any timePIs must be based in Gemini participating countries or the host institutions.
  • The Gemini community is eligible to propose HyperSuprimeCam (HSC) filler programs on Subaru. Filler programs are executed in poor observing conditions (typically seeing >1.5 arcseconds, and/or poor transparency) and up to 35 hours can be requested by a filler proposal, although the first 4 hours have priority. Execution is not guaranteed: observations are made only when there is no other program in the HSC queue. In recent semesters, typically of order 15% of HSC time has gone to filler programs. Proposals must be sent through the Subaru submission system (NOT Gemini), and are considered only by the Subaru TAC. Note that only a short text summary of the program is required, not a full detailed Science Justification.
  • The Gemini community has the opportunity to propose Subaru Intensive Program programs as LLP proposals, which request more than 5 nights in classical mode and 3.5 nights for the HSC/PFS queue mode.

Data Rights, Proprietary Periods and Data Distribution

All data taken with the Gemini telescopes are the property of the Gemini Observatory. Principal investigators of Gemini regular programs (Queue/Classical/Poor Weather) have exclusive access to the data for their program for a period of 12 months. Data acquired as part of a Director's Discretionary (DD) program have a standard proprietary period of 6 months, however in exceptional circumstances the Observatory may remove DD proprietary periods. See the page Data Rights and Proprietary Periods for more information.

All data, including raw and available processed data, obtained with the Gemini telescope are distributed exclusively through the Gemini Observatory Archive. More information about the data distribution is given here.


Supporting Information for the Call for Proposals

Relevant general information related to the applications for time on Gemini Telescopes is presented in the supporting information page. Consult there for the following:

  • Time Allocation Process (National and International Time Allocation Committees)
  • Submitting for time on both telescopes
  • Band 1 Persistence
  • Electronic PIT Submission
  • Joint Proposals
  • Under-utilized Instruments
  • Targets of Opportunity
  • GMOS Mask definitions
  • Poor Weather Programs
  • Exchange Time
  • Target information (guide stars, non-sidereal objects, time-specific observations)
  • Duplicate Observations

Prospective users should also refer to the target and instrument accessibility page, and the instrument pages for detailed and up to date information on instrumentation.


Questions and Answers

All questions concerning proposals, or any other subject, should be made using the Gemini HelpDesk. The system will send the request to your National Gemini Office staff in the first instance who will escalate it to Gemini staff if necessary.

Comments and suggestions on the format and content of this page and supporting pages are welcome, and should be sent to Joan Font-Serra and Mark Rawlings.


2025B Call for Proposals | Gemini Observatory

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