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Australian Astronomy MNRF Symposium

Gemini Local Activities and International Developments. Warrick Couch, UNSW no longer the Australian Gemini Scientist, - not quite yet the Australian Gemini Board member. Australian Astronomy MNRF Symposium. ATNF Marsfield, 7 June 2005. Talk outline. Local Activities AusGO news

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Australian Astronomy MNRF Symposium

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  1. Gemini Local Activities and International Developments • Warrick Couch, UNSW • no longer the Australian Gemini Scientist, • - not quite yet the Australian Gemini Board member Australian Astronomy MNRF Symposium ATNF Marsfield, 7 June 2005

  2. Talk outline • Local Activities • AusGO news • Gemini Users’ Survey • Publications • Swap of time with Canada • Purchase of extra nights • International Developments • Laser Guide Star @ GN • Aspen instrumentation program & WFMOS Australian Astronomy MNRF Symposium ATNF Marsfield, 7 June 2005

  3. Changes with the Australian Gemini Office • On 1 January 2005, the Australian Gemini Office relocated from UNSW to RSAA@ANU. • Dr Paul Francis (RSAA) became the new Australian Gemini Scientist on this date as well ( “Project Manager” for MNRF “Gemini increased share” project) Two new Deputy Gemini Scientists • Dr Matthew O’Dowd (UMelb) appointed DGS for the Melbourne region in July 2004, and Dr David Woods (UNSW) appointed DGS for the Sydney region in September 2004. • Responsibilities: provide Phase I/II and data reduction software support for Gemini users in their regions + develop data reduction pipeline software for Gemini instruments/modes. • Both active researchers/Gemini users – 25% of their time available for research.

  4. Australian Gemini Users Survey • Goals: • To conduct an ‘audit’ of Australia’s use of its Gemini time and what the returns have been in terms of useful data, scientific results, publications and postgraduate training (driven by requests for such information from ATAC and ARC). • To use this as an opportunity to identify problems with the observing process and ‘bottle-necks’ in converting data into science. • Surveyed all Australian astronomers who had been allocated ATAC time in the semesters 2001A – 2004A inclusive: • 67 queue programs (SRB=1-4) and 2 classical programs totaling 644 hrs

  5. 30% 30% Program completion statistics (01A-04A) 25% 25% 20% SRB=1 38% 31% 31% 31% 45% of programs got zero data SRB=2 0% Only 5 programs fully completed with data to spec 75% SRB=3 17% 8% 8% 0% COMPLETE 50-100% 0-50% NO DATA %use<%obs

  6. Issues: • fragmented nature of queue observing: • Long time to acquire complete datasets on individual target objects • Observations taken in different conditions; heterogeneous datasets compromises data reduction and overall quality • ‘threshold’ effect with queue observing: • Many instances of programs having obtained data but not enough to get over threshold required to produce a significant scientific result and hence a paper • ‘snap-shot’ mentality within a small partner community: • Quite a number of programs have involved small allocations for high-medium risk ‘look-and-see’ observations, a number of which have come to nothing! • Some programs take a long time: • Two major programs which have been strongly supported (dist SN and external globs) take a long time to complete.

  7. Issues continued: • variety of difficulties, mainly at/with Observatory: • instrument breakdowns and performance problems (many!) • poor advice on best instrument configuration to use • poor scheduling of observations • pointing uncertainties with mid-IR instruments • data reduction software: • packages within Gemini IRAF very rudimentary and often suffer from fundamental bugs

  8. Australian publications from Gemini Dec 2003

  9. Australian publications – 2004 MNRF Symp • Croom et al. 2004, “Gemini imaging of QSO host galaxies at z~2”, Ap.J., 606, 126. • Melatos et al. 2004, “Rapid variability of subarcsecond shock structure in the Crab Nebula”, Ap.J. (submitted). • Forbes et al. 2004, “Gemini/GMOS photometry of globular clusters in the Virgo galaxy NGC4649”, MNRAS (submitted). • Stanway, Glazebrook,…..Boyle, Colless, Couch et al. 2004, “Three Ly emitters at z~6: Early Gemini/GMOS data from the GLARE project”, Ap.J., 604, L13.

  10. Australian publications – 2005 MNRF Symp 14. Matthew T. Whiting, Rachel L. Webster, Paul J. Francis (2005). ``Probing the Line-of-Sight Environment to PKS2126-158 with Gemini/GMOS'', Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, submitted. 13. A. Melatos, D. Scheltus, M.T. Whiting, S.S. Eikenberry, R.W. Romani, F. Rigaut, A. Spitovsky, J. Arons, D.J.B. Payne (2005). ``Near-Infrared Millihertz Variability of the Wisps and Jet in the Crab Pulsar Wind Nebula'', Astrophysical Journal, submitted. 12. J. Bland-Hawthorn, M. Vlajic, K.C. Freeman, B.T. Draine (2005). ``NGC 300: An Extremely Faint, Outer Stellar Disk Observed to 10 Scale Lengths'', Astrophysical Journal, in press. 11. Randall B. Wayth, Matthew O'Dowd, Rachel L. Webster (2005). ``A Microlensing Measurement of the Size of the Broad Emission Line Region in the Lensed QSO 2237+0305'', Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society,359, p. 561-566. 10. Kalirai, J.S., Richer, H.B., Reitzel, D., Hansen, B.M.S., Rich, R.M., Fahlman, G.G., Gibson, B.K., von Hippel, T. (2005). ``The Initial-Final Mass Relationship: Spectroscopy of White Dwarfs in NGC 2099 (M37)'', Astrophysical Journal (Letters),618, p. L123-L127. 9. Da Costa G.S. (2004). ``The Stellar Populations of dE Galaxies in Nearby Groups'', Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia, 21, p. 366-370. 8. Forbes D.A., Faifer F.R., Forte J.C., Bridges T., Beasley M.A., Gebhardt K., Hanes D.A., Sharples R., Zepf S.E. (2004).``Gemini GMOS imaging of globular clusters in the Virgo galaxy NGC 4649 (M60)'', Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 355, p. 608-616. 7. Smith J.K., Bunker A.J., Vogt N.P., Abraham R.G., Aragon-Salamanca A., Bower R.G., Parry I.R., Sharp R.S., Swinbank A.M. (2004). ``H-alpha Kinematics of a z~ 1 Disc Galaxy from Near-infrared Integral Field Spectroscopy'', Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 354, p. L19-L23. 6. de Grijs R., Smith L.J., Bunker A., Sharp R.G., Gallagher J.S., Anders P., Lancon A., O'Connell R.W., Parry I.R. (2004). ``CIRPASS Near-infrared Integral-Field Spectroscopy of Massive Star Clusters in the Starburst Galaxy NGC 1140'', Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 352, p. 263-276. 5. Croom S.M., Schade D., Boyle B.J., Shanks T., Miller L., Smith R.J. (2004). ``Gemini Imaging of QSO Host Galaxies at z~2'', Astrophysical Journal, 606, p. 126-138. 4. Stanway E.R., Glazebrook K., Bunker A.J., Abraham R.G., Hook I., Rhoads J., McCarthy P.J., Boyle B., Colless M., Crampton D., Couch W., Jorgensen I., Malhotra S., Murowinski R., Roth K., Savaglio S., Tsvetanov Z. (2004). ``Three Ly alpha Emitters at z ~ 6: Early GMOS/Gemini Data from the GLARE Project'', Astrophysical Journal, 604, p. L13-L16. 3. Sharp R.G., Parry I.R., Ryder S.D., Knapen J.H., Mazzuca L.M. (2004). ``Age-dating a Star-Burst with GEMINI/CIRPASS Observations of the Core of M83'', Astronomische Nachrichten, 325, p. 108-111. 2. Smith V.V., Hinkle K.H., Cunha K., Plez B., Lambert D.L., Pilachowski C.A., Barbuy B., Melendez J., Balachandran S., Bessell M.S., Geisler D.P., Hesser J.E., Winge C. (2002). ``Chemical Abundances in 12 Red Giants of the Large Magellanic Cloud from High-Resolution Infrared Spectroscopy'', Astronomical Journal, 124, p. 3241-3254. 1. Davidge T.J., Da Costa G.S., Jorgensen I., Allington-Smith J.R. (2002). ``The M31 Dwarf Spheroidal Companion Andromeda V: g', r', and i' Imaging with the Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph on Gemini North'', Astronomical Journal, 124, p. 886-895. (Please advise the Australian Gemini Office of any publication oversights)

  11. 4 Science productivity goals for 2005 & 2006

  12. Purchase of Nights on Gemini-S from the UK Recommendation to AABoM at its June 2004 meeting…. •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.

  13. Purchase of Nights on Gemini-S from the UK December 2004 – agreement reached with PPARC in UK for Australia to buy a total of 24 nights on Gemini-South – 8 nights in each of the semesters 2005B, 2006A, 2006B – for a cost of US$1.5M ($US62.5K per night)

  14. Demand for Gemini time from Aus community Gemini North Gemini South avail req Starting in 2005B, Aus GN time swapped with Canadian GS time, to balance demand Extra 8 nights o’subd by factor of x 2.84

  15. International Developments Australian Astronomy MNRF Symposium ATNF Marsfield, 7 June 2005

  16. Successful commissioning of laser guide star facility at Gemini-North • 13W solid-state diode laser built by Coherent Tech, along with beam transfer optics system, and laser launch telescope now installed on Gemini-North. • ‘First light’ propagation took place on night of 1-2 May; running at 7W, it produced a 9.3 mag artifical guide star, ~1.5arcsec in size. • Science commissioning for use with ALTAIR/NIRI and ALTAIR/ NIFS to take place in Q4, 2005.

  17. Aspen Instrumentation Program

  18. 2003 2004 2005 Aspen 2003 Workshop • Meeting held in June 2003 • Attended by ~100 astronomers which represented interests of many more astronomers world wide • Key product of the meeting was a set of fundamental questions in astronomy that would serve as the basis of the scientific strategic plan for the Observatory

  19. MATTER LIFE ENERGY 2003 2004 2005 Aspen 2003 Workshop • Matter • How do galaxies form? • What is the nature of dark matter on galactic scales? • What is the relationship between super massive black holes and galaxies? • Energy • What is dark energy? • How did the cosmic “dark age” end? • Life • How common are extrasolar planets, including earth-like planets? • How do star and planetary systems form? • How do stars process elements into the chemical building blocks of life?

  20. Mapping Questions to Capabilities

  21. Moving into Experimental Physics

  22. Moving into Experimental Physics

  23. The continued pursuit of an integrated Planet Program Classical AdaptiveOptics Imaging ALTAIR GSAOI 10-3 Multi-channel coronagraphs NICI Lu et al (2002), Gemini North 50 MJ 10-4 Extreme adaptive optics Imaging ExAOC 10-5 5 MJ Planet Mass (MJ) Around low-mass stars 10-6 Around solar-type stars Infrared reflexspec. HRNIRS 0.5 MJ 10-7 Habitable Zone 10-8 0.05 MJ Earths Contrast 10 AU 1 AU 100 AU Separation from star

  24. $ ~$64M 2003 Gemini Board Meeting • 3-stage development program proposed/endorsed by the Board • Begin design studies for an Extreme Adaptive Optics Coronagraph (ExAOC) and High Resolution Near Infrared Spectrometer (HRNIRS) • Begin feasibility studies for a Wide Field Optical Fiber-fed MOS (WFMOS) and Ground Layer Adaptive Optics (GLAO) system • Examine options for pursuing science goals identified in Aspen via modifications to existing/planned instruments and/or visitor instruments May 2004: AAO-led team selected to undertake WFMOS feasibility study

  25. MNRF support for the AAO WFMOS study Recommendation to AABoM at its June 2004 meeting…. •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 AAO’s cost of involvement in the feasibility study, after allowing for the AAO’s share of the available Gemini funding. The other 50% comes from AAO matching (in-kind) funds.

  26. Key milestones in 2005 • Feb 2005: Concept design studies (for ExAOC & HRNIRS) and feasibility studies (for WFMOS & GLAO) completed; total cost of these Aspen instruments (including 30% contingency) is ~US$100M. • April 2005: Gemini Finance Committee meets and commits to a US$75M funding envelope for the Aspen instrumentation package over the years 2006-2010 (at least for planning purposes). • May 2005: Gemini Board meets & considers options

  27. Board Resolutions • “The Board accepts the recommendation of the WFMOS review team that WFMOS proceed only if it can be implemented on Subaru.” • “The Board asks the Director to bring the options for instrumentation packages that fall within the budget planning envelope and his recommended instrumentation plan to the GSC. The Board anticipates that the GSC will provide recommendations to the Director concerning how well various packages achieve the high priority Aspen science goals, discuss whether plans for phasing are optimum, and consider ways to maintain options for Aspen instruments that are not yet in conceptual design phases.”

  28. GSC meeting – 1 June 2005 Key outcomes/recommendations: • Unanimous support for WFMOS and the Subaru option, on the basis of its outstanding ‘Physics of the Universe’ science and ensuring breadth in Aspen capabilities. • Gemini should proceed immediately with a pair of competitive design studies, to be completed by October 2006. • Engage in negotiations with Japanese community to reach, with speed, a firm commitment on both sides, and to enter into arrangements that promote successful scientific, technical & operational collaboration.

  29. Reaching closure Board will make its final decisions re a final Aspen instrument package tomorrow, when it is due to meet by telecon…..

  30. The search for a new Gemini Director…. 2005.A.11 The Board notes, with considerably mixed feelings, the announced intention of its Director to assume the leadership of another of the world’s premier astronomical organizations, the Space Telescope Science Institute. From the time of his appointment as Project Scientist through his tenure as Director, Dr. Mountain has shown exceptional vision, skill, knowledge and energy in bringing the Gemini Observatory from plans on paper to the first-rate research facility it is today. Matt Mountain: • International Gemini Project Scientist 1992-1994 • Gemini Director 1994-2005

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