Gemini Observatory soon to be Five Managing Under
Gemini Observatory soon to be Five Managing Under a Six-Nation Partnership
“Two telescopes, one observatory” Gemini South Cerro Pachon, Chile Gemini North Mauna Kea, Hawaii Gemini Observatory, constructed 1999 -2000, consists of twin 8. 1 -m infrared-optimized telescopes with exquisite optics located on two of the best sites for observing the universe. Together these telescopes access the entire sky.
The Partnership • Partner countries and their current shares are listed in the table below. • The UK have announced their decision to withdraw at the end of 2012. • As a result, and with changes in Australian and Brazilian involvement, revenues will decline and shares will transition as: ($ are O&M/Instr, in M) Partner 2010 (% $) Post-2012 U. S 50. 1% $15. 9 M/3. 2 M 66. 3% U. K. 22. 7% $7. 6 M/0. 4 M 0. 0% Canada 15. 0% $4. 8 M/0. 5 M 18. 9% Australia 6. 2% $2. 0 M/0. 3 M 5. 0% Brazil 5. 0% $0. 8 M/0. 0 M 6. 6% Argentina 2. 4% $0. 8 M/0. 3 M 3. 1% Total 100% $31. 9 M/4. 7 M -24% 100% $24. 3 M/? ? ? • The increased share for the U. S. amounts to about +50 nights/yr for the general astronomical community on the two telescopes combined.
Gemini Management NSF serves as the executive agency for the international partnership
Management Roles & Responsibilities • Partners – – Funding Agencies Signatories to the Agreement Appoint members to the Board Determine new partners • Board – Supervisory and regulatory body established in the Gemini International Agreement – Composed of Agency officials and science community representatives – Sets budget, approves key personnel and major contracts, etc. – Determines action in event of default or withdrawal – Chile and Hawaii vote on scientific issues relevant to their tenant telescope
Management Roles & Responsibilities (cont) • NSF – – – “Executive Agency” - on behalf of partner agencies Board member: Ulvestad Program Officer: Schmidt (Foltz) Arranges for Managing Organization (currently AURA) Handles all fiscal matters Provides technical and managerial oversight in consultation with Board – Conducts and coordinates reviews – Provides Secretariat to the Board (Pentecost) • AURA, Inc. – Chosen as current Managing Organization by NSF, with approval of the Gemini Board. – Operates Gemini under separate Cooperative Agreement. – Negotiates with host countries, employs legal counsel, enters into contracts, manages the project, assumes fiduciary responsibility – Advised by AURA Observatory Council – Gemini (AOCG)
Management Roles & Responsibilities (cont) • Gemini International Observatory – Advised by Gemini Science Committee – Operations Working Group, AO Working Group – Convenes International Telescope Allocation Committee (ITAC) • National Gemini Offices (NGOs) – National portals to Gemini – Provide information to national users; process proposals; convene national TAC; etc. – Funded by partners – The U. S. NGO is the NOAO Gemini Science Center (Tucson) – Advised by National Science Advisory Committee
Highlights – The First Directly-Imaged Planet around a Sun-like Star Gemini AO image of 1 RXS J 160929. 1 -210524 and its ~8 Jupiter-mass companion (in red circle). Picture is a composite of J-, H, and Kband near-IR images. Obtained with the ALTAIR laser/natural guide star system and Near-Infrared Imager (NIRI) on the Gemini North telescope. Note 1 arcsec scale at bottom left.
Highlights – MCAO Constellation Ge. MS 50 -watt laser (above) is projected as a 5 -spot constellation covering 1 sq. arcmin by Ge. MS to illuminate the sodium layer ~90 km above Cerro Pachon, Jan. 22, 2011.
The Queue is the Default Operations Mode Successful execution of the Gemini queue requires: 1. 2. 3. 4. Detailed planning on a variety of timescales (months to minutes). Observers adept in the use of all mounted (up to 5!) instruments. All potential instruments ready and calibrated. Real-time data QA/QC by Gemini staff. The queue provides increased flexibility and observing efficiency, albeit at a cost.
Delivering on Commitments – Observing Efficiency Primary sources of lost time are weather, fault, shutdown, engineering, commissioning.
Challenges - I • Management and governance complexity – International partnership demands a more role than traditional for NSF – Local politics and economies, variation in Chilean peso exchange rate active • Transition to reduced budget post-UK withdrawal – New AURA proposal for management of Gemini Observatory 2012 -2015 was submitted Jan. 31, and will be reviewed with site visit Mar. 21 -24. – Essential aspect of transition is ~24% budget reduction, including ~32 FTEs – Elements of proposed transition: • Maintain high-quality instrumentation, queue operations, remote observing • Improve interface to user community • Reduce engineering, limit instrument complement, implement software queue, reduce travel, migrate queue observing to non-scientific staff.
Challenges - II • Responding to Astro 2010 – Support from national communities • Proposal process • Instrumentation – Instrumentation • • • First science observations with GNIRS Commissioning of Ge. MS MCAO system Pre-ship testing of GPI Problems with Flamingos 2 Renewing efforts to obtain high-resolution optical spectrograph – Relationship to NOAO & other partner facilities. Concepts being considered by international “Tiger Team” of Gemini Board members, being led by AST Director J. Ulvestad
Supplementary Slides
Delivering on Commitments – Program Completion rates have increased since 2004 (grey vs. other colors), but large proposal development effort causes continued proposer frustration, particularly for Band 3 programs.
- Slides: 15