testing and commissioning, we plan to have
GHOST ready for use by semester 2018B.
Instrument Upgrade —
Small Projects Proposals
Gemini Instrument
Feasibility Studies
Gemini is committed to keeping our operational instrumentation competitive and to
serving the needs of our user community.
The Observatory also has a responsibility to
provide major upgrades to the telescopes
and their adaptive optics systems and associated instrumentation. To this end, in October we issued a request for the community
to send us small-scale instrument upgrade
proposals as part of our Instrument Upgrade Program.
In April 2015 Gemini funded a number of independent and non-competitive Gemini Instrument Feasibility Studies (GIFS). We designed
these studies to help Gemini understand the
science, technical requirements, and costs associated with creating the next Gemini instrument (Gen4#3) — while complying with a set
of top-level Science and Technology Advisory
Committee guiding principles.
GIFS resulted in four outstanding studies
for Gemini: GEONIS, GMOX, MOVIES, and
OCTOCAM. Each represents a different view
of what is possible for Gemini’s next instruments. However, the studies’ outputs are
not instrument design for build proposals;
Gemini will use the GIFS studies to help inform the requirements that will go into the
call for Gen4#3.
The community can now read the final reports and presentations from each team
and provide comments and pose questions
to: [email protected]. Before completing the set of requirements for Gen4#3,
Gemini will consider any comments received
by December 22, 2016; we particularly welcome feedback on the science requirements,
technical capability, and design aspects.
With a total budget of $200,000, we were
looking for compelling proposals requesting up to the whole budget, as well as those
asking for minimal, or even no funding from
Gemini. Each selected project will receive up
to one night (10 hours) of observing time to
be used for demonstrating the scientific potential of the upgraded instrument.
At the time of writing, we have received letters of intent and are excitedly anticipating
receiving proposals by the December 17th
deadline. We expect to quickly evaluate proposals and begin one or more instrument
upgrade projects in 2016 Q1. For further announcements visit this site.
After January 22nd, Gemini will consider
the community’s input, along with recommendations from our advisory committees,
to produce the Gen4#3 Request for Proposals (RfP). We are working towards a 2016 Q2
release of the RfP. Please visit the Gen4#3
home page for the latest information.
January 2016
GeminiFocus
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