Skip to main content
Gemini Observatory Logo
NOIRLab Logo U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) logo
Canadian National Research Council (NRC) logo Chilean Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo (ANID) logo Brazilian Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação logo Argentinean Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación logo Korea Astronomy and Space Institute (KASI) logo
  • Menu
      • Start here!
      • Phase I: Proposing for Time
        • PIT
        • Standard Semester Program
        • TAC
        • PW
        • LLP
        • FT
        • DDT
        • Queue
        • Classical
        • PV
        • ToO
        • Eavesdropping
        • Joint Proposals
      • Phase II: Requesting & Monitoring Observations
        • OT
        • OT/Phase II Checklist
        • Instructions
        • Useful to know
        • Non-Sidereal Targets
      • Phase III: Retrieving & Reducing Data
        • Data Quality Assessment Process
        • Downloading the Data
        • Reducing the Data
        • Getting Help
        • Acknowledging Gemini
        • Providing Feedback
      • Getting Help
        • Submit a General Helpdesk Request
      • Schedules and Queue
        • Nightlog GN
        • Nightlog GS
        • 2025A Classical Schedule
        • 2024B Classical Schedule
        • Queue Summary (Bands, DD, LP, FT, PW)
        • Previous Semesters
      • Resources
        • Magnitudes and Fluxes
        • Multi-Object Spectroscopy
        • Near-IR Resources
        • Optical Resources
        • Integration Time Calculator (ITC)
        • Advice
        • Available Filters
      • Science Operations Statistics
        • Historical statistics
      • Telescopes and Sites
        • Telescopes
        • Sites
      • Policies Regarding Observing
      • Visiting Gemini
        • Graduate Student Visitor Program
        • Visitas al telescopio
        • Maunakea Visitor's Guidelines
      • Operations Development
        • Operations Development Documentation
      • Current Instruments
        • Altair
        • GHOST
        • NIRI
        • TEXES
        • GNIRS
        • IGRINS-2
        • GMOS
        • GeMS
        • Flamingos 2
        • GSAOI
        • `Alopeke & Zorro
        • MAROON-X
      • Future Instruments
        • Specs and Documents
        • SCORPIO
        • GIRMOS
        • GPI 2.0
        • GNAO
      • Visiting Instrument Program
        • Telescope Interfaces
      • Instrument Upgrade Program
        • Previously Awarded Updates
        • 2017 Request for Proposals
      • Retired Instruments
      • Performance Monitoring
      • Timing information in Gemini Instruments
      • Conduct
      • Careers and Jobs
      • Publications
      • Gemini Telescopes, Science and Technologies
      • Gemini In The Era of Multi-Messenger Astronomy
        • GEMMA Team
        • Publications
        • GEMMA Outreach
        • Documents
      • National Gemini Offices (NGO)
      • Governance
      • Participant Shares
      • Web Accessibility
      • Contact Us
      • Gemini Contact Scientists
      • Gemini Strategic Planning
      • Gemini Research Staff
      • Press Releases
      • Announcements
      • Operations Updates
      • Gemini e-Newscast
      • Images
      • Videos
      • CloudCam
      • Virtual tour
      • Activities at Gemini
        • Live From Gemini
        • AstroDay Chile
        • Viaje Al Universo
        • Journey Through The Universe
      • Facility Tours
      • Gemini Card Game
      • Gemini Science Meetings
      • Gemini at National Meetings
      • Topical Science Meetings

You are here

  • Home
  • Instrumentation
  • Current Instruments

`Alopeke & Zorro

Gemini North Gemini SouthOptical
Last Modified: 
Friday, August 30, 2024 - 14:55

`Alopeke and Zorro (Hawaiian and Spanish for "fox") are identical fast, low-noise, dual-channel, and dual-plate-scale imagers based on the Differential Speckle Survey Instrument (DSSI, Horch et al.2009, 2012). `Alopeke is permanently mounted on the calibration port at Gemini North, and Zorro on the calibration port at Gemini South. In speckle mode they provide simultaneous two-color diffraction-limited optical imaging (FWHM~0.02" at 650nm) of targets as faint as V~17 over a 6.7" field of view. Wide-field mode provides simultaneous two-color imaging in standard SDSS filters over a 60" field of view.

Available For Proposals at Gemini North
For more details, see the schedules and the CfPs.
×
Available For Proposals at Gemini South
For more details, see the schedules and the CfPs.
×

Current Instruments

  • Altair
  • GHOST
  • NIRI
  • TEXES
  • GNIRS
  • IGRINS-2
  • GMOS
  • GeMS
  • Flamingos 2
  • GSAOI
  • `Alopeke & Zorro
    • Capability
    • Components
    • Proposal preparation
    • Calibrations
    • Observation preparation
    • Data reduction
  • MAROON-X

Capability Summary (Read more)

Speckle Imaging

  • 1-minute integrations comprised of 1000 images of 60 msec each
  • 256x256 pixel (2.5") subarray
  • Can achieve diffraction-limited resolution (0.016" FWHM at 500nm and 0.025" at 800nm)
  • Larger subarrays may be used for extended objects, but the performance will depend on the stability of the atmosphere.

Wide-Field

  • Read out of the full frame at 1MHz
  • Possible to:
    • bin
    • read out a subarray
    • use the EMCCD amplifier for faster readout
    • read more slowly (0.1 MHz) for lower read noise

Guiding Options (Read more)

  • PWFS

Papers containing 'Alopeke and/or Zorro data should acknowledge Gemini and the 'Alopeke / Zorro team.

The PI for the Gemini Speckle program is Steve Howell (NASA Ames Research Center).

Layout #1
Layout #2

Announcements

December 15, 2022

H alpha filter installed in 'Alopeke

July 15, 2022

Zorro run extended

View All Alopeke-Zorro News

Instrument Team

gn Instrument Scientist

Andrew Stephens

gn Additional Support Staff

    Zachary Hartman

Email: alopeke@gemini.edu

gs Instrument Scientist

Venu Kalari

gs Additional Support Staff

    Jeong-Eun Heo

Email: zorro@gemini.edu

International Gemini Observatory

The International Gemini Observatory  provides the astronomical communities in six participant countries with state-of-the-art astronomical facilities that allocate observing time in proportion to each country's contribution. In addition to financial support, each country also contributes significant scientific and technical resources. The national research agencies that form the Gemini partnership include: the US National Science Foundation (NSF), the Canadian National Research Council (NRC), the Chilean Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo (ANID), the Brazilian Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação, the Argentinean Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación, and the Korea Astronomy and Space Institute (KASI). The observatory is managed by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. (AURA) under a cooperative agreement with the NSF. The NSF also serves as the executive agency for the international partnership.     


Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. (AURA) logo

Follow Gemini Observatory

Observing

    • Start here!
    • Phase I: Proposing for Time
    • Phase II: Requesting & Monitoring Observations
    • Phase III: Retrieving & Reducing Data
    • Getting Help
    • Schedules and Queue
    • Resources
    • Science Operations Statistics
    • Telescopes and Sites
    • Policies Regarding Observing
    • Visiting Gemini
    • Operations Development

Instrumentation

    • Current Instruments
    • Future Instruments
    • Visiting Instrument Program
    • Instrument Upgrade Program
    • Retired Instruments
    • Performance Monitoring
    • Timing information in Gemini Instruments

About

    • Conduct
    • Careers and Jobs
    • Publications
    • Gemini Telescopes, Science and Technologies
    • Gemini In The Era of Multi-Messenger Astronomy
    • National Gemini Offices (NGO)
    • Governance
    • Participant Shares
    • Web Accessibility
    • Contact Us
    • Gemini Contact Scientists
    • Gemini Strategic Planning
    • Gemini Research Staff

Gallery

    • Images
    • Videos
    • CloudCam

News

Learn

    • Virtual tour
    • Activities at Gemini
    • Facility Tours
    • Gemini Card Game

Events

    • Gemini Science Meetings
    • Gemini at National Meetings
    • Topical Science Meetings