The Gemini Agreement between the Partners and the Parties of the Gemini consortium. The document covers construction, commissioning and operations of the Gemini Telescopes. This version is a "combined" version that merges the three amendments with the original agrement. The signed versions of The Gemini Agreement and of the amendments are available from the National Science Foundation.
Science Requirements Document (Version 3.0, November 1996) The purpose of the SRD is to identify the main scientific goals of the project and to provide a logical framework for the project staff to develop the engineering requirements for the telescope systems. This document is also available via our FTP server and from the Online Library as SPE-PS-G0001.
Science Operations Plan (75k PDF; Version 2.0)
This document presents a model for operations which is driven by the scientific aspirations of the partners. That partnership itself is a strong motivation for this approach. Flexible scheduling forces collegiality and collaboration, because the time is not scheduled a priori to one country, but is used for the most appropriate program in the queue. Decisions made on operations issues must benefit all the partners, not just those with the largest shares of time.
Strategic Plan (111k PDF, version 6.3, January 2005e Gemini Observatory's primary mission is to "fulfill the scientific aspirations of the Gemini astronomical communities by developing, operating and maintaining the Gemini telescopes as forefront Optical and IR facilities for astrophysical research. The Observatory should work in partnership with its communities to maintain excellence and cost effectiveness in the facilities, instrumentation, and in the support it provides to the entire Gemini user community." This strategic plan describes the role and evolution of the Science Operations Plan and the complementary role of the Development Programs in fulfilling this mission.
Science Programs There are several scientific programs planned for the Gemini Telescopes. The main themes of the programs are concerned with observing and understanding the origins and evolution of stars and planetary systems, of galaxies, and of the universe itself. The telescopes will be used to observe objects ranging in distance from within our own Solar System to within 10% of the observable horizon of the universe.
Examples of main themes are:
"On a cold weekend over the 18-19 January 1997, astronomers from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, United Kingdom and the United States met in Abingdon, just outside Oxford, England. Amongst the Medieval Abbey grounds and English gardens of Cosener's House, with swans drifting slowly by on the river, these forty-two astronomers settled down to chart the future scientific direction for the Gemini 8M Telescopes instrumentation program. The intent of this first instrumentation workshop was to ask what programs could and should be done on these two new telescopes in the early part of the next Century and how should these potential science programs impact our planning for future instruments?" - From the Foreword
Gemini's current suite, providing detailed information on both North and South instruments, availability, Integration Time Calculators, and more.
The Gemini Board sets budgetary policy bounds for the Observatory and carries out broad oversight functions as defined in the inter-agency Agreement. The Gemini Board has reserved the right to approve the appointments of the Gemini Director and Associate Directors for Gemini North and South.
Dr. Charles Woodward (Chair)
Department of Astronomy, University of Minnesota
Phone: 612-624-0254 | Email: chelsea@astro.umn.edu
Ms. Liz Pentecost (Executive Secretary)
Division of Astronomical Sciences, National Science Foundation
Phone: 703-292-4907 | Email: epenteco@nsf.gov
Prof. Elizabeth J. Barton
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California-Irvine
Phone: 949-824-7178 | Email: ebarton@uci.edu
Prof. Dan Clemens
Department of Astronomy, Boston University
Phone: 617-353-6140 | Email: clemens@bu.edu
Dr. Greg Fahlman
Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics, National Research Council Canada
Phone: 250-363-0040 | Email: greg.fahlman@nrc.gc.ca
Dr. Kepler de Souza Oliveira Filho
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande
Phone: 55-51-3316-6556 | Email: kepler@if.ufrgs.br
Dr. Craig Foltz
Division of Astronomical Sciences, National Science Foundation
Phone: 703-292-4909 | E-mail: efoltz@nsf.gov
Dr. Aníbal Gattone
Ministry of Science and Technology and Productive Innovation
Phone: 54-11-4891-8397 | Email: gattone@innova-red.net
Dr. Monica Rubio Lopez
Conicyt
Phone: 56-2-365-4409 | Email: mrubio@conicyt.cl
Prof. Bob McLaren
Institute for Astronomy, University of Hawai`i
Phone: 808-956-8768 | Email: mclaren@ifa.hawaii.edu
Dr. Colin Vincent
Science and Technology Facilities Council
Phone: 44-17-93-442095 | Email: colin.vincent@stfc.ac.uk
Dr. Rene Walterbos
Astronomy Department, New Mexico State University
Phone: 575-646-5990 | Email: rwalterb@nmsu.edu
Prof. Howard Yee
Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics, University of Toronto
Phone: 416-978-1771 | Email: hyee@astro.utoronto.ca
The Gemini Finance Committee is comprised of financial authorities from the various partner countries. The GFC advises the Gemini Board on financial, budget and long range plan issues for the Gemini Observatory.
Mr. Daniel Gosselin (Chair)
Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics, National Research Council
Phone: 613-990-7471 | Email: daniel.gosselin@nrc.ca
Ms. Lise Leblanc (Executive Secretary)
Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics, National Research Council
Phone: 613-993-8239 | Email: lise.leblanc@nrc.ca
Prof. Albert Bruch
Laboratorio Nacional de Astrofísica
Phone: 55-35-3623-1500 | Email: albert@lna.br
Prof. Warrick Couch
School of Physics, Swinburne University
Phone: +61-3-9214-4712 | Email: wcouch@swin.edu.au
Dr. Greg Fahlman
Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics, National Research Council Canada
Phone: 250-363-0040 | Email: mailto:greg.fahlman@nrc.ca
Dr. Craig Foltz
Division of Astronomical Sciences, National Science Foundation
Phone: 703-292-4909 | Email: cfoltz@nsf.gov
Dr. Aníbal Gattone
Ministry of Science and Technology and Productive Innovation
Phone: 54-11-4891-8397 | Email: gattone@innova-red.net
Mr. Tim Kashmer
Division of Acquisition and Cooperative Support, National Science Foundation
Phone: 703-292-4818 | Email: tkashmer@nsf.gov
Ms. Elizabeth Pentecost (ex-officio)
Division of Astronomical Sciences, National Science Foundation
Phone: 703-292-4907 | Email: epenteco@nsf.gov
Ms. Jane Tirard
Science & Technology Facilities Council
Phone: +44 1793 442031| Email: jane.tirard@stfc.ac.uk
Dr. Colin Vincent
Astronomy Programme, Science & Technology Facilities Council
Phone: +44-1793-442095 | Email: Colin.Vincent@stfc.ac.uk
The GSC is responsible for advising the Observatory Management on the Science Requirements. Click here for reports/resolutions.
Dr. Timothy C. Beers (Chair)
Department of Physics and Astronomy, Michigan State University
Phone: 1-517-355-9200 (ext. 2416) | Email: beers@pa.msu.edu
Dr. Scott Croom
School of Physics, University of Sydney
Phone: 61-2-9036-5311 | Email: scroom@physics.usyd.edu.au
Dr. Rene Doyon
Department de Physique, Universite de Montreal
Phone: 1-514-343-6111 (ext. 3204) | Email: doyon@astro.umontreal.ca
Dr. John Lacy
Department of Astronomy, University of Texas at Austin
Phone: 512-471-1469 | Email: lacy@astro.as.utexas.edu
Dr. Diego Lambas
Instituto de Astronomia Teorica y Experimental, IATE, CONICET-UNC
Phone: 54 351-4331066 | Email: dgl@mail.oac.uncor.edu
Dr. Paulina Lira
Departamento de Astronomia, Universidad de Chile
Phone: 56-2-977-1138 | Email: plira@das.uchile.cl
Dr. Ross McLure
Institute for Astronomy, University of Edinburgh
Phone: 44-131-6688317 | Email: rjm@roe.ac.uk
Dr. Christopher C. Packham
Department of Astronomy, University of Florida
Phone: 1-352-392-2052 (ext. 259) | Email: packham@astro.ufl.edu
Dr. Catherine A. Pilachowski
Astronomy Department, Indiana University
Phone: 1-812 855-6913 | Email: catyp@astro.indiana.edu
Dr Suzie Ramsay
European Southern Observatory
Phone: 49-89-32006665 | Email: sramsay@eso.org
Dr. Henry G. Roe
Lowell Observatory
Phone: 1-928-233-3218 | Email: hroe@lowell.edu
Prof. Alan Stockton
Institute for Astronomy, University of Hawaii
Phone: 1-808-956-7995 | Email: stockton@ifa.hawaii.edu
Dr. Chris Willott
Canadian Astronomy Data Centre, National Research Council Canada
Phone: 250 363-8368 | Email: chris.willott@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca
The AURA Oversight Committee-Gemini provides oversight and advocacy for the management of the Gemini Observatory.
Dr. Fred Chaffee (Chair)
The University of North Carolina at Chapel
Phone: 919-240-5312 | Email: fchaffee@physics.unc.edu
Dr. Roberto Abraham
Astronomy & Astrophysics, University of Toronto
Phone: 416-946-7289 | Email: abraham@astro.utoronto.ca
Dr. Judith G. Cohen
Dept.of Astronomy, California Institute of Technology
(626) 395-4005 | Email: jlc@astro.caltech.edu
Dr. Jim Fanson
Kepler Project, Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Phone: 818-354-7014 | Email: james.I.fanson@jpl.nasa.gov
Prof. Richard Green
Large Binocular Telescope Observatory
Phone: 520-626-7088 | Email: rgreen@as.arizona.edu
Dr. Mario Mateo
Department of Astronomy, University of Michigan
Phone: 734-936-1742 | Email: mmateo@umich.edu
Dr. Brian Schmidt
Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Mount Stromlo Observatory
Phone: 61-2-6125- 8042 | Email: brian@mso.anu.edu.au
Dr. William Smith
Association of Universities for Reasearch in Astronomy
Phone: 202-483-2101 | Email: wsmith@aura-astronomy.org
Dr. Thaisa Storchi Bergmann
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Instituto de Física
Phone: 51-3316-6643 | Email: thaisa@if.ufrgs.br
The OWG advises the Gemini Director on the use and scheduling of the Gemini Telescopes, and on matters related to the support of users and to the interface between the national communities and the Observatory.
Dr. Ilona Soechting (Chair) - United Kingdom
Department of Astronomy, Oxford University
Phone: 44-1865-283106 | Email: iks@astro.ox.ac.uk
Dr. Colin Aspin - United States
University of Hawai'i, Institute for Astronomy
Phone: 808-932-2392 | Email: caa@ifa.hawaii.edu
Dr. Stéphanie Côté - Canada
National Research Council of Canada, Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics
Phone: 250-363-0026 | Email: Stephanie.Cote@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca
Dr. Mercedes Gomez - Argentina
Observatorio Astronomico de Cordoba
Phone: 54-351-433-063/64/65 ext. 114 | Email: mercedes@mail.oac.uncor.edu
Dr. Stuart Ryder - Australia
Anglo-Australian Observatory
Phone: 61-2-9372-4843 | Email: ausgo@aao.gov.au
Dr. Marília Jobim Sartori - Brazil
Laboratório Nacional de Astrofísica
Phone: (55)-35-3629-8141 | Email: marilia@lna.br
Dr. Verne Smith- United States
National Optical Astronomy Observatory
Phone: 520-318-8453 | Email: vsmith@noao.edu
Dr. Sebastian López - Chile
Oficina Gemini-Conicyt
Phone: (56-2)-678-4731 | Email: slopez@conicyt.cl
The International Time Allocation Committee consists of representatives from the national time allocation committees, as well as the Observatory itself. The ITAC is chaired by a Gemini senior-level scientist. The recommendations of the ITAC are advisory to the Gemini Director. The ITAC meets twice a year to consider joint and conflicting proposals identified in the merging process, and to recommend the programs for execution in queue and classical modes.
Dr. Sandy Leggett (Chair)
Gemini Observatory
Phone: 808-974 2604 | Email: sleggett@gemini.edu
Ms. Rosemary Pike (Technical Secretary)
Gemini Observatory
Phone: 808-974-2634 | Email: bwalls@gemini.edu
Prof. Beatriz Barbuy
IAG/USP
barbuy@astro.iag.usp.br
Felipe Barrientos
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Phone: 56-2-354-4940 | E-mail: barrientos@astro.puc.cl
Dr. John Blakeslee
National Research Council Canada
Phone: 250-363-0047 | Email: john.blakeslee@nrc.ca
Scott Croom
University of Sydney
Phone: 61-2-9036-5311 | E-mail: scroom@physics.usyd.edu.au
Dr. Tom Geballe
Gemini Observatory
Phone: 808-974-2519 | Email: tgeballe@gemini.edu
Dr. Mercedes Gomez - Argentina
Observatorio Astronomico de Cordoba
Phone: 54-351-433-063/64/65 ext. 114 | Email: mercedes@mail.oac.uncor.edu
Graham Smith
University of Birmingham
Phone: 44-121-414-4600 | E-mail: gps@star.sr.bham.ac.uk
Dr. Verne Smith
National Optical Astronomy Observatory
Phone: 520-318-8288 | Email: vsmith@noao.edu
Dr. Richard Wainscoat
University of Hawai`i, Institute for Astronomy
Phone: 808-956-8429 | Email: rjw@ifa.hawaii.edu
The Gemini Staff TAC consist of four external members (including the Chair) and three Gemini staff members. The Gemini Staff TAC assesses the Gemini staff proposals and makes a recommendation to the Gemini Director.
Dr. Edo Berger (Chair)
Harvard University
Phone: 1--617- 495-7914 | Email: eberger@cfa.harvard.edu
Dr. Ruben Diaz
Gemini Observatory
Phone: 56-51-205695 | Email: rdiaz@gemini.edu
Dr. Tom Geballe
Gemini Observatory
Phone: 808 974-2519 | Email: tgeballe@gemini.edu
Dr. Marshall McCall
York University
Phone: 416-736-2100 x 33773 | Email: mccall@york.edu
Dr. Kris Sellgren
Ohio State University
Phone: 614-292-1898 | Email:sellgren@astronomy.ohio-state.edu
Dr. Diane Wooden
NASA/Ames Research Center
Phone: 650-604-5522 | Email: wooden@delphinus.arc.nasa.gov
| Date | Committee | Location | Committee Logistics Contact (Gemini)* |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 27-28, 2009 | Operations Working Group | La Serena, Chile | Lucia Medina 56-51-205-601 |
| February 19-20, 2009 | AURA Board Meeting | Hilo, Hawaii | Terry Kaonohi 1-808-974-2524 |
| February 21-22, 2009 | WFMOS Conceptual Design Review | Hilo, Hawaii | Terry Kaonohi 1-808-974-2524 |
| February 25-26, 2009 | Gemini DataFlow Preliminary Design Review | Hilo, Hawaii | Terry Kaonohi 1-808-974-2524 |
| March 12-13, 2009 | AOC-G Meeting | La Serena, Chile | Lucia Medina 56-51-205-601 |
| April 22-25, 2009 | AURA Board Meeting | Tucson, Arizona | n/a |
| May 12-13, 2009 | Gemini Board | Hilo, Hawaii | Terry Kaonohi 1-808-974-2524 |
| May 18-21, 2009 | Joint Subaru & Gemini Science Conference | Kyoto, Japan | N/A |
| May 19-20, 2009 | ITAC | Kyoto, Japan | N/A |
| May 22, 2009 | Gemini Users' Meeting | Kyoto, Japan | N/A |
| July 29-30, 2009 | Operations Working Group Meeting | Warwick, United Kingdom | N/A |
| September 29-30, 2009 | AURA Board Meeting | Las Cruces, New Mexico | N/A |
| October 12-13, 2009 | Gemini Science Committee Meeting | Hilo, Hawaii | Terry Kaonohi 1-808-974-2524 |
| October 15-16, 2009 | Gemini Planning Committee Meeting | Kailua-Kona, Hawaii | Terry Kaonohi 1-808-974-2524 |
| October 27-28, 2009 | Aura Oversight Committee-Gemini Meeting | Hilo, Hawaii | Terry Kaonohi 1-808-974-2524 |
| November 9-10, 2009 | Gemini Finance Committee Meeting | La Serena, Chile | Lucia Medina 56-51-205-601 |
| November 11-13, 2009 | Gemini Board | La Serena, Chile | Lucia Medina 56-51-205-601 |
| November 19-20, 2009 | ITAC | Tucson, Arizona | N/A |
| February 2-3, 2010 | AURA Board Meeting | La Serena, Chile | Lucia Medina 56-51-205-601 |
| April 21-24, 2010 | 2010 AURA Annual Meeting | Annapolis, Maryland | N/A |
| May 11-12, 2010 | Gemini Board | Hilo, Hawaii | Terry Kaonohi 1-808-974-2524 |
| May 26-27, 2010 | ITAC | Victoria Canada | N/A |
| November 10-12, 2010 | Gemini Board | La Serena, Chile | Lucia Medina 56-51-205-601 |
| * The Gemini contact person responsible for Gemini meeting logistics deals with coordinating local meeting room and office space, network support, local transport and support with accomodation and other related events. | |||