The Gemini Observatory: Moving into Science Operations

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Gemini and the MNRF An Update Gary Da
Costa Chair, Australian Gemini Steering Committee
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Background Original aim of the MNRF proposal in
the context of Optical/IR Astronomy was to double
Australias share of the Gemini telescopes,
though only 85 of the requested funding was
awarded. The extra share (arising from Chiles
change of status in Gemini) was to be funded
through the provision of locally fabricated
instruments to the Gemini telescopes. However,
the Gemini Finance Committee and the Gemini Board
decided that only cash payments could be used to
purchase the Chile share. This meant that,
through the MNRF program, at most 50 of the
Chile share could be purchased. After a
protracted negotiation process we eventually
purchased 30 of the Chile share (i.e. extra
1.43 total share) and the community has had
access to this additional time since 2003.
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Background Continued However, as a consequence
not purchasing more of the Chile share, and with
the rise in the Australian , there remains of
order 6M of MNRF Gemini funds that are
currently uncommitted. AABoM has formally
requested AGSCs advice on the disposition of
these funds, suggesting as possible options
Purchase additional share of Gemini if available
Purchase additional nights on Gemini from
other partners Cover (downward) fluctuations
in exchange rate Commence design studies or
negotiations, or build instrumentation,
to secure strategic advantage for Australia
in Gemini or in other world-class or
next-generation telescopes. Any
other appropriate use.
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In this context AGSC/AABoM received a number of
proposals for these uncommitted funds
Support for PILOT a 2m class telescope in
Antarctica Support for an Australian ELT
Project Scientist Support for Commissioning
Astronomers for efficient and
effective community use of Australian-built
Gemini instruments Support for Australian
involvement in the Gemini Wide Field
Optical Multi-Object Spectrograph (GWFMOS)
an instrument that is a high-priority
outcome of the Aspen Future Gemini
Instrumentation process. Buy nights on
Gemini-S from the UK.
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Input on these proposals was sought from the
community through AGSAC, the Australian Gemini
Science Advisory Committee. Responses came
from both individuals and from local meetings,
and there was broad input from across the
community. Not surprisingly there was a
diversity of views e.g. Id support an ELT
project scientist very strongly please dont
waste the money on a ELT project
scientist buying nights more nights on
Gemini, the majority are not in favour of
this option buying more Gemini nights this
was certainly one of the most preferred
options generally. Yesterday afternoon AGSC met
to consider these proposals
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Support for PILOT a 2m class telescope in
Antarctica. It is clear that there is
considerable potential for exciting science to be
carried out in Antarctica, particularly given the
recent results on the seeing at Dome C (for
heights gt 30m above ground, the median seeing
was 0.27 over six-week period Lawrence et al,
submitted to Nature). However, AGSC felt that
it would be inconsistent with the aims of the
current MNRF program to award funds to the PILOT
program. Other funding avenues, such as through
the upcoming decadal review process, were
considered more appropriate.
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Support for Australian ELT Project Scientist.
It is clear that involvement in an ELT program is
a key strategic objective for the long term
future of Australian Optical/IR Astronomy. It is
also clear that there is a lot of activity in
this area internationally at present, and that
there would be benefits in having an Australian
ELT Project Scientist as a focal point for ELT
activities both nationally and internationally.
However, AGSC felt that it could not support
the ELT Project Scientist proposal in the form in
which it was presented by the ELT Working Group
(3 yr Level C full time position, 75 ELT
activities, 25 own research). ASGC instead
suggested that the ELTWG reconsider the proposal,
perhaps in the form of a position with 50
commitment to ELT activities. A new proposal
would also need information on potential
recruitment processes, host institution(s), etc.
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Support for Commissioning Astronomers. It
is clear that it is important to maximize the
scientific return from the investment in the
locally fabricated Gemini instruments.
However, AGSC felt that there were more
appropriate ways to fund the activities envisaged
for the Commissioning Astronomers. These
included ARC Discovery Projects for science
related activities and the Australian Gemini
Office, e.g. the Deputy Project Scientist
position(s), for support related activities.
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Support for Australian Involvement in GWFMOS.
This instrument, as recognized through the Aspen
process, has the potential to make lasting
contributions in a number of scientific areas of
direct interest to the Australian community. It
is important therefore, that the feasibility
study, being carried out by the AAO together with
a number of other institutions across the Gemini
partnership, be carried out as thoroughly and
completely as possible. Consequently, AGSC
recommended that the 239k requested by the AAO
to support the feasibility study be supported.
This amount represents 50 of the AAOs cost of
involvement in the feasibility study, after
allowing for the AAOs share of the available
Gemini funding. The other 50 comes from AAO
matching (in-kind) funds.
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Buying Nights on Gemini-S from the UK. AGSC
felt that this represented a strategic
opportunity for the Australian community to make
a substantial scientific impact with the Gemini
telescopes during the lifetime of the MNRF
program. Consequently, AGSC recommended
that 15-20 nights on Gemini-S be purchased from
the UK (subject to an acceptable price per night)
for use in semesters 2005A and B, with the
expectation of purchasing a similar amount of
time for use in 2006. The intention is that
these additional nights would be allocated by
ATAC, but that they would be directed towards
Australian programs of larger scope and potential
impact than are currently supported. ASGC will
generate guidelines for such programs and
distribute an Announcement of Opportunity well
in advance of the semester deadline.
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So where have we come to The recommendations
to support the GWFMOS feasibility study and to
purchase nights on Gemini-S from the UK account
for upto 4M of the uncommitted MNRF funds. AGSC
felt that the remaining monies should remain
uncommitted at this time. As for the
disposition of those remaining uncommitted funds,
and the purchase of nights in 2006, AGSC
recommended that this should be revisited in
approximately a years time when there will be
more definite information on the likelihood of
GWFMOS progressing beyond the feasibility study
stage, and on the level of community involvement
in, and desire for, larger scale scientific
programs with Gemini. At its meeting this
morning, AABoM accepted these recommendations.
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Questions and Discussion.
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Telescope Time Availability Current (2004B)
6 nights per semester per telescope for the
Australian community is approaching the
steady-state operations allocation for our (6.2)
partner share. Demand for these nights is
clearly taking off 2004B proposal statistics
31 proposals (13 G-N, 18 G-S) with an overall
oversubscription rate of 4.0 (2.9 G-N, 5.4
G-S!). Now seeing for the first time the
oversubscription for Gemini matching or
outweighing the oversubscription for the AAT.
Collaboration with Gemini partners is strong 14
of 31 proposals are joint i.e. also
requesting time from another partner TAC.
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Instrumentation Updates (or whats coming)
NIFS 1-2.5 micron R 5000 Integral-Field
Spectrograph to work with ALTAIR, the G-N
facility Adaptive Optics system.
NIFS-II is being built by Auspace and should be
ready for commissioning on Gemini-N in semester
2005A.
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Instrumentation Updates (or whats coming)
NICI Dual channel 1-2.5 micron coronagraphic
imager with its own dedicated curvature sensing
AO system, and a variety of filters,
beam-splitting options, masks, etc.
Commissioning on Gemini-S in 2005A (NASA
funded). bHROS Fibre-fed bench mounted R
150,000 high dispersion optical spectrograph
(35 nm simultaneous coverage). Undergoing
throughput tests at present. Gemini Science
Committee has set a goal of a minimum total
throughput of 10 for bHROS to be formally
commissioned. If it meets the target, it will be
commissioned in 2004B and be available for
community use in 2005A.
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Instrumentation Updates (longer term) GSAOI
1-2.5 micron Adaptive Optics Imager for Gemini-S.
Will work initially with single laser AO system,
and then the multi-laser Multi-Conjugate AO
system (AO corrected images over a 1
field-of-view). Passed Critical Design Review,
on schedule for commissioning late 2005.
FLAMINGOS II Cryogenic 1-2.5 micron Multi-Object
Spectrograph for Gemini-N. Scheduled for
commissioning in 2006. These two instruments are
the last of the first generation.
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Aspen process (future Gemini instrumentation) Pa
rtner national meetings ? Aspen Workshop ? Gemini
Science Committee recommendations ? Gemini
Board GSC Minimum Core Package (not priority
order) Instrument Science Enabled Extreme
AO Direct detection of gas-giant planets,
proto- planetary disks Hi-Res NIR spect Many
applications Wide Field Fiber-fed Unique facility
with wide application Optical MOS Gemini Board
basically endorsed the GSCs
recommendations.
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Aspen process (future Gemini instrumentation) Sp
ecific Outcomes Announcements of Opportunities
for Concept Design Studies for Extreme-AO and NIR
High Res spectrograph instruments. Probable
these instruments will go to fabrication given
that are probably funds to build these in the
Gemini budget. Announcements of Opportunities
for Feasibility Concept Studies for the Gemini
Wide Field Optical MOS and for a Ground-Layer
Adaptive Optics (GLAO) system (GSC Other
opportunity). These instruments (GWFMOS is
recognised as higher priority) will probably
fundamentally change the way the telescope(s)
operate (move to campaign science rather than
individual PI driven). At present there isnt
the funding to build GWFMOS but agencies are
prepared to consider the case.
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Contingency. AGSC recommended that (1) any
contingency funds not be labeled as being
required for a specific future use (e.g. paying
operations costs beyond the end of the MNRF
program) (2) AABoM consider paying in advance
the operating costs commitment for the balance of
the MNRF program.