Science Operations Announcements

Observing Databases offline June 6

June 5th, 2023

The Gemini observing databases will be offline for several hours on Tuesday, June 6 while we perform software updates.

During this time the following services will be unavailable:

  • Observing Tool synchronizations and file transfers
  • Phase I Tool guide star probability queries
  • Target of Opportunity triggers

The new 2023B Observing Tool will be available after the update and will be required to access the observing databases.

DRAGONS Version 3.1 Released

April 17th, 2023

The latest version of DRAGONS was released on 6 April and includes full support for GMOS long-slit data. With this release, DRAGONS offers support for the science quality reduction of data from the GMOS, NIRI, GSAOI, and F2 imagers, as well as the GMOS long-slit spectrograph (including nod-and-shuffle observations). The 3.1 release also includes new data-reduction recipes, tutorials, interactive tools, an improved calibration manager, GSAOI alignment/stacking (replacing disco_stu), improved procedures for bad-pixel masks, and Python 3.10 compatibility.

Gemini South Telescope closed due to generator failures

January 31st, 2023

Due to a planned commercial power outage for infrastructure improvements and failures of both the main and backup generators, the Gemini South Telescope will remain closed tonight.  The main generator has been repaired and tomorrow (Feb 2) we aim to recover all the systems from the unplanned shutdown that occurred last night (Jan 30/31).  If necessary, further information will be posted here.

Observing Database Interruption Jan 25

January 24th, 2023

Both Gemini Observing Databases will be offline for ~30 minutes in the Chilean morning (roughly 10am Chile and 3am Hawaii) while we perform software updates.

During this time the following services will be unavailable:

  • Observing Tool synchronizations and file transfers
  • Phase I Tool guide star probability queries
  • Non-sidereal target queries
  • Integration Time Calculators
  • Target of Opportunity triggers

New Gemini Helpdesk platform launches January 30, 2023

January 20th, 2023

We are pleased to announce that we will be moving the Gemini Helpdesk to a new cloud-based platform on January 30, 2023. The general system of tiered support from the National Offices and Gemini support staff will remain unchanged. The primary changes for our users are the requirement for creating an account on the system for ticket submissions, and moving to a fully web-based system for ticket interactions. Users will still receive email notifications when their tickets have been updated.

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