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NOAO Gemini Science Center (NGSC)

NOAO Gemini Science Center (NGSC). Taft Armandroff for NOAO Users’ Committee October 2003. Overview of NGSC Activities. NGSC User & Observing Proposal Support NGSC Operations Support NGSC Outreach to U.S. Astronomical Community NGSC Instrumentation Activities

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NOAO Gemini Science Center (NGSC)

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  1. NOAO Gemini ScienceCenter (NGSC) Taft Armandroff for NOAO Users’ Committee October 2003

  2. Overview of NGSC Activities • NGSC User & Observing Proposal Support • NGSC Operations Support • NGSC Outreach to U.S. Astronomical Community • NGSC Instrumentation Activities • “Aspen” Next-Generation Gemini Instrumentation Process

  3. NGSC User Support • Call for U.S. Gemini proposals & their evaluation • Community education • NOAO Newsletter, NGSC section • U.S. Gemini Web information • AAS Meetings • PowerPoint presentations at U.S. universities • Proposal technical review • Support TAC evaluation • Transmit ranked list to Gemini; interface via ITAC • Support of U.S. Gemini proposers & users • HelpDesk, e-mail & phone contact • Support & checking of U.S. Phase II submissions • 2003B: GMOS, NIRI, & Phoenix (44 U.S.) • Provide reduction packages for Gemini data • Collaboration with NOAO Data Products Program and Gemini

  4. 2003B U.S. Gemini Requests • 107 proposals • Gemini North: 107.8 nights in 60 proposals • GMOS-N: 49.3 nights in 28 proposals • NIRI: 38.0 nights in 21 proposals • Michelle: 20.5 nights in 13 proposals • Gemini South: 106.9 nights in 52 proposals • T-ReCS: 32.1 nights in 18 proposals • GMOS-S: 41.9 nights in 17 proposals • Phoenix: 30.4 nights in 15 proposals • AcqCam: 2.5 nights in 2 proposals • Oversubscription: 2.6 at GEM-N, 2.7 at GEM-S • Oversubscription systematically underestimated due to non-inclusion of weather & technical losses

  5. 2004A U.S. Gemini Requests • 133 proposals • Gemini North: 175.2 nights in 77 proposals • GMOS-N: 112.7 nights in 50 proposals • NIRI: 62.5 nights in 29 proposals • 10 of NIRI proposals included ALTAIR • Gemini South: 123.4 nights in 59 proposals • T-ReCS: 60.8 nights in 25 proposals • Phoenix: 46.1 nights in 23 proposals • GMOS-S: 16.5 nights in 12 proposals • AcqCam: no requests • Oversubscription: 3.0 at GEM-N, 2.5 at GEM-S

  6. NGSC Operations Support • Phoenix high-resolution IR spectrograph: service observing on Gemini South • 50 science nights scheduled in 2003A • Hinkle, Blum, van der Bliek, & Ridgway support • NGSC Staff involvement in Commissioning & System Verification for new Gemini instruments • GMOS South: M. Bergmann, C. Smith • T-ReCS: 2 System Verification programs of NGSC Staff • Many NGSC Staff proposing for ALTAIR + NIRI SV, MICHELLE imaging SV, GMOS-South IFU SV • Develop arrangement to help support Hokupa’a-85 + Abu Adaptive Optics Imager on Gemini South • Develop a remote operations capability in Tucson (GROC) & La Serena using high-speed video and computer links to Cerro Pachón and Mauna Kea

  7. Community Outreach • Host special-topic science & analysis workshops • Future NGSC workshop ideas: • mid-IR observing opportunities at Gemini • Integral Field Unit (IFU) opportunities at Gemini • Using IRAF to reduce your Gemini data • GNIRS observing & calibration • NGSC at AAS meetings: booth at Seattle AAS (posters, brochures & Observing Tool demonstr.) • do same at Atlanta AAS (January 2004) • NGSC presentations at U.S. institutions • NGSC Webcast on Gemini 2004A Proposals • Postdoc program (2 general; 3 South American) • Gemini Science Meeting in 2004 (NGSC Support) • U.S. Gemini SAC is NGSC’s community-based advisory council

  8. NGSC Instrumentation Activities • Mission • instrument procurement in U.S. for Gemini telescopes • analogous function in other partner countries • Activities • NGSC let all the current U.S. instrument contracts • provide advice & liaison to the instrument teams • carry out management oversight • CoDR, PDR, CDR, acceptance testing • Quarterly Reviews • release of payments only when specified milestone met • report progress to International Gemini; coordinate communications between the instrument team & Gemini

  9. U.S. Instrument Developments • T-ReCS: mid-infrared imager and spectrograph for Gemini South (Florida) • Delivered to Gemini South 12 April 2003 • Followed by integration, acceptance testing, & commissioning • First light took place 2 June 2003 • TAC-approved science programs beginning execution! • GNIRS: workhorse infrared long-slit / IFU spectrograph for Gemini South (NOAO) • Pre-shipment acceptance test completed 15 October 2003 • GNIRS shipment to Gemini South imminent • Mounting GNIRS on Gemini South planned for December 2003 • GNIRS first light planned for January 2004

  10. U.S. Instrument Developments • NICI: dual-beam coronagraphic infrared imager for Gemini South (MKIR) • NASA funded • Procurement / fabrication phase ending; integration phase beginning • December 2004 delivery planned • Flamingos-2: multi-object IR spectrograph and imager (Florida) • Management Review in late January 2003 • NGSC assisting Florida personnel in project management techniques (Gaughan & Eklund) • Flamingos-2 contract approved and signed in early May • Critical Design Review took place in August • December 2005 delivery planned

  11. US Next-Gen Gemini Sci/Inst Planning • Workshop: May 29-31; Tempe, Arizona • Goal: Key Gemini Science Programs for 2008-2010 Realm • High-impact science questions / projects • What observations are needed to answer the science question? • 40 participants; diverse in science interests & institutional affiliation (includes most of the U.S. Aspen delegates) • E-mail & telecon preparatory discussions • Four Science Breakout Groups • Stars, the Solar System, and Extra-Solar Planets (leader: J. Valenti) • Star Formation Processes and the ISM (leader: M. Meyer) • Structure and Evolution of the Milky Way and Nearby Galaxies (leader: R. Wyse) • Formation and Evolution of Distant Galaxies and the High-Redshift Universe (leader: K. Glazebrook) • Written report on Tempe conclusions on Web • Two briefings/discussions on Tempe results for U.S. Aspen delegates; firm up U.S. consensus

  12. Tempe Over-Arching Questions • Formation and Evolution of Planetary Systems • Formation of Stars & Brown Dwarfs over the Mass Spectrum • Origin of the Elements • Origin of the Hubble Sequence • Dark Matter and the Formation of Galaxies from Substructure • Dark Energy and Cosmic Sound • Reionization History of Universe • Feedback from Stars & AGN on Galactic Evolution

  13. Aspen International Gemini Next-Generation Instrumentation Meeting • June 27-28, 2003; Aspen, CO • Half of delegates from U.S. • Half of science group chairs from U.S. • Written report on science questions and instrumental requirements • National Gemini Offices (NGSC) then estimated ROM costs for each instrument concept • “Aspen” report submitted to Gemini Science Committee for its October 13-14 meeting • To be considered by Gemini Board at its November meeting

  14. “Aspen” Instrument Summary

  15. Open NGSC/Gemini Issues • Are the science needs of U.S. community at large aperture being met by Gemini? Any issues impeding user science? • Do the “Aspen” instruments represent a bright scientific future for Gemini? • What are the near-term priorities for commissioning Gemini instruments? • What data reduction software is most needed for U.S. Gemini users? • Is there demand for both Queue and Classical observing with Gemini by our community? • The U.S. Gemini SAC has discussed all these questions.

  16. Begin Reserve Slides May be of use for specific committee questions

  17. Recent U.S. Gemini Papers • “Detection of Nine M8.0-L0.5 Binaries: The Very Low Mass Binary Population and Its Implications for Brown Dwarf and Very Low Mass Star Formation,” Close et al., ApJ, 2003 • “Resolved Mid-Infrared Emission in the Narrow-Line Region of NGC 4151,” Radomski et al., ApJ, 2003 • “Mid-Infrared Imaging of the Protostellar Binary L1448N IRS 3(A,B),” Ciardi et al., ApJ, 2003 • “Fluorine Abundances in the Large Magellanic Cloud and Omega Centauri: Evidence for Neutrino Nucleosynthesis?,” Cunha et al., AJ, 2003

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