Planning for the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the Gemini partnership at the end of 2012, the Gemini Observatory has worked with the Gemini Board to develop a transition plan for operations and maintenance with a reduced budget in the future. The plan is now available at the AURA website http://www.aura-astronomy.org/news/news.asp?newsID=220 and comments may be contributed through the same site.
Instrument Support Structure - Gemini South.
The June 2010 issue of GeminiFocus is now available electronically (downloadable as a PDF).
Gemini Observatory and the US National Optical Astronomy Observatory are organizing a Gemini Data Workshop 19--22 July 2010 in Tucson, Arizona. Registration is free and open to anyone. The workshop will cover the basics of astronomical data reduction, followed by breakout sessions that then focus on specific Gemini instruments or capabilities.
Gemini's flagship local outreach program, Journey Through the Universe, for 2010 is scheduled for February 25th - March 5th. To learn more about this annual program in Hawai'i please use this link:
Text about hurricane preparedness.
Adaptive Optics dramatically improves the performance of telescopes. Over the past few years facility AO systems have become a reality on large telescopes. Significant and important science is being achieved now with these systems on 6 to 10 meter telescopes.