Gemini has been negotiating with the Australian Astronomical Observatory (AAO) for the continued design and construction of the Gemini High-resolution Optical Spectroraph (GHOS).  The AAO has, in turn, been negotiating with KiwiStar, a subcontractor working on the GHOS spectrograph.  Late in July, the Board of KiwiStar's parent company, Callaghan Innovation, met to review and hopefully approve the final contract so GHOS could get underway.

Resolutions from the Gemini Board’s May 2013 meeting

The Gemini e-newscast #48 (June 13, 2013) features:

• Gemini Observations of Comet ISON
• FLAMINGOS-2 on the Gemini South Telescope
• 2013B Proposal Review Complete
• GMOS Mask-Making Software Update
• Beta Release of Ureka IRAF + Python Distribution
• Committee Reports Posted

The Gemini e-newscast #47 (May 17, 2013) features:

• A “Shockingly Bright” Gamma-ray Burst
• A Gap in a Pre-Transitional Disk
• FLAMINGOS-2 Commissioning Update
• Welcome New Users’ Committee Members
• AstroDay Hawai‘i

2012 Annual Report

The Gemini e-newscast #45 (Mar. 15, 2013) features:

• Discovery of an Extremely Nearby Brown Dwarf Pair
• Semester 2013B Proposals
• The Journey Continues

The Gemini e-newscast #44 (Feb. 14, 2013) features:

• Infrared Supernova Spectroscopy
• GeMS/GSAOI Update
• Users’ Committee for Gemini
• GPI to Start Acceptance Testing
• Gemini North Shutdown Complete
• "Big" Winner of Australian Student Imaging Contest

The report from the first regular meeting of the Users' Committee for Gemini (UCG) is now posted, along with the response from the Observatory.  We encourage all users to communicate with the members of the UCG so that your needs and concerns may be addressed.

The Gemini Observatory response to the late 2012 STAC report is available.

The December 2012 issue of GeminiFocus is available here.