Markus Kissler-Patig
Director’s Message
The Culmination of Another Successful Year at Gemini
After three years of effort, we proudly announce that Gemini Observatory has accomplished its transition to a leaner and more agile facility, operating now on a ~25% reduced
budget compared to 2012. Achieving that goal was no easy task. It required questioning
every one of our activities, redefining our core mission, and reducing our staff by almost a
quarter; ultimately we relied on the ideas and joint efforts of everyone in the Observatory.
As we continue with the 2016 budget, we managed to fit all our current activities within
the reduced budget, which our Finance Committee and Board of Directors have already
approved. Huge kudos to all the Gemini staff for their contributions to three years of massive changes!
So Where Are We Now, and What’s Next?
The Gemini Observatory’s governance has provided us with guidelines for 2016-2021. A
key state ment is that: “Gemini will strive to be the best observatory in the world for the execution of flexible, innovative, and efficient science programs.” I believe that we already are,
and will continue to be so well into the future! Here’s at least six reasons why.
First, we are unique in offering our users multiple ways of requesting telescope time for
programs (regular, Long and Large, and Fast Turnaround). Second, Gemini’s twin 8-meter
telescopes are now equipped with four state-of-the-art facility-class instruments, several
of which utilize adaptive-optics. Third, Gemini has the only 8- to 10-meter-class telescope
offering multi-conjugate adaptive optics. Fourth, we are the only 8- to 10-meter-class observatory to so openly welcome visitor instruments; so much so that our user community
has built up a “waiting list” for them. Fifth, Gemini North is the first 8- to 10-meter-class telescope to fully operate remotely at night. And Sixth, Gemini is the first major observatory
January 2016
2015 Year in Review
GeminiFocus
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