Figure 3 . This image is a screenshot taken from the UH88 camera pointed at the Gemini North telescope , dated
Monday , December 19 ,
2016 .
Figure 4 .
An image taken from Hilo on December 19 ,
2016 , of a snowy Maunakea .
Image credit : Joy Pollard
the National Optical Astronomy Observatory and the Las Cumbres Observatory . The community should also begin to think about other observing modes and strategies for using Gemini in the coming decade . Please contact Bryan Miller ( bmiller @ gemini . edu ) for more information , especially if you are interested in participating in these efforts .
Making the Most of Poor Weather Nights
Clouds and poor seeing can frustrate any astronomer on a classical observing night . One of the main strengths of Gemini ’ s queue observing is that your program is observed in the conditions it requires . While users of Gemini North and South may not need to worry much about bad weather nights , less-than-ideal conditions can occur when simply no targets exist in the regular queue programs to observe . Even if that happens , Gemini rises to the occasion and makes the most of the night by observing Band 4 or Poor Weather proposals ( if available ).
Band 4 programs can be submitted at any time during the semester and are most welcome during periods of bad weather ( see the following News for Users item ). If you have a science case with bright targets that can handle Cloud Cover = 70 % and above ( or any ), any Image Quality , and any Water Vapor ( with no restriction on Sky Background — or any Cloud Cover and Water Vapor ( with no restriction on Image Quality and Sky Background ) — then consider submitting a Band 4 / Poor Weather program today . More details on the proposal submission process can be found at this link .
Winter Blasts Maunakea
The tilt of our planet ’ s axis has once again delivered an extended period of weather not conducive to astronomical observing on Maunakea . Starting in late November a series of fronts , troughs , and low-pressure systems have produced overcast skies , wind , and significant snow , ( with drifting ) at the Gemini North site ( Figures 3 and 4 ). In the one month period from mid-November until mid-December , 16 nights were entirely lost to weather , and an additional four were more than half lost . Overall , during this period we have only managed to obtain science for about one-third of the available time . As this issue goes to press the weather is improving !
14 GeminiFocus January 2017