The 2023B Gemini Observatory Call for Proposals has been released. Proposals are being accepted for observations from 1 August 2023 to 31 January 2024. Gemini North and Gemini South are expected to have 162 and 141 nights available for science, respectively. A new version of the Phase I Tool (PIT) has been released to support proposal submissions.
Since November 'Alopeke has now a Halpha filter. The specifications are identical to the one installed at Zorro. The filter is available to anyone applying to 'Alopeke time.
Gemini is now accepting proposals for observing time in Semester 2023A. The submission deadline varies with participant. A new version of the Phase I Tool (PIT) has been released to support proposal submissions.
Heavy snowfall at Cerro Pachon has completely wiped out the Zorro run originally scheduled between July 11 and 17th. We expect the telescope can be operating again on Monday 18th, and the Zorro run has been extended until Friday 22nd.
Gemini is now accepting proposals for observing time in Semester 2022B. The submission deadline varies with participant. A new version of the Phase I Tool (PIT) has been released to support proposal submissions.
After a successful realignment of its optics, the first Zorro run of the semester happened between Sept 16 and 22. Zorro has both cameras operative and waiting for proposals for 22A!
Gemini is now accepting proposals for observing time in Semester 2022A. The submission deadline varies with participant. A new version of the Phase I Tool (PIT) has been released to support proposal submissions.
Zorro will be removed on Sept 1st for its optics realignment between Sept 8 to 10th. It will be installed back on the telescope between Sept 13 and 15th, and be ready before the Zorro run starting on the 16th.
The Zorro blue filter wheel, that had been faulty since last March, was successfully replaced last week. An unfortunate side-effect of the procedure is that the red and blue cameras are now misaligned by about 6 arcsecods, a shift bigger than the speckle field-of-view, which makes simultaneous observations with both cameras in speckle mode impossible. Both cameras are working fine, only independently. New PIs should therefore indicate which camera they want to use. Both cameras can still be used, but this will imply doubling the requested time.
After a minor fix to its controlling computer, Zorro is back online starting May 31.