Science Operations Announcements

PyRAF on Python 3

August 3rd, 2022

Following some collaboration with the "IRAF Community" project earlier this year, we are pleased to make available PyRAF 2.2.1, the first version to pass all our testing on Python 3. This runs roughly as fast as the Python 2 version, thanks to improvements by Ole Streicher.

This version is already included on the new IRAF VM for Apple machines (see yesterday's announcement). On Linux, it can be installed by specifying "python=3.7" instead of "python=2.7" in the "conda create" command -- see:

Gemini South Telescope resuming operations this week.

July 25th, 2022

Gemini South telescope has remained closed the entire past week after heavy snowfall over Pachon. The large quantity of snow accumulated over the summit during the two events between July 9 and July 15 prevented the telescope from being open, with large accumulation of snow and ice on the roads as well.  Additionally, commercial power was lost and its return is expected sometime during this week, although there is still no certainty about that.

Gemini South Telescope closed due to snow accumulation, July 11-25

July 11th, 2022

Gemini South Telescope will remain closed through at least July 25th due to a large accumulation of snow and ice on the dome and roads.   It is uncertain when the roads will be passable and a crew can travel to the summit to begin clearing the large amount of accumulated snow on the dome.  Additionally, commercial power was lost and its return is also not expected until after the roads are cleared.

DRAGONS v3.0.3 Patch Release Available

July 8th, 2022

A patch release of DRAGONS, v3.0.3, is now available.  DRAGOSN v3.0.3 is a patch release that offers an automated handling of the GMOS-S amplifier #5 that failed in January.  The patch also includes a few other bug fixes.

If you already have DRAGONS v3.0 installed, a simple "conda install dragons=3.0.3" will update the package.  For further instructions and details, see https://www.gemini.edu/observing/phase-iii/reducing-data.

DRAGONS v3.0.3 Patch Release Available

July 8th, 2022

A patch release of DRAGONS is available. This patch adds better handling of the GMOS-S data following the January failure of amplifier #5. For that data, the whole amplifier is automatically masked as bad pixels ensuring that those pixels are not used in calculations. The patch also includes bug fixes, small improvements, and fixes to the documentation.

For a complete list of changes since v3.0.1 see:
    https://dragons.readthedocs.io/en/v3.0.3/changes.html

Gemini IRAF v1.15 with new support for Flamingos 2 MOS

June 8th, 2022

A new version of Gemini IRAF v1.15 with new support for Flamingos 2 MOS (Multi-Object Spectroscopy) data is available.

Along with Flamingos 2 MOS support, the new release includes the changes added in the v1.14 patch released two months ago, as well as several other bug fixes.

The package is distributed via conda. See the installation instructions page for details.

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