GeMS will be in commissioning / Science Verification in 2012.

We anticipate announcing the call for System Verification (SV) proposals to use the Gemini Multi-Conjugate Adaptive Optics System (GeMS) with the Gemini South Adaptive Optics Imager (GSAOI) the last week of August. The observations are likely to be executed in December 2012 and January 2013. More information will be provided here.

Two modes of operations will be offered with GeMS. The first mode (called 3+1), uses the 3 visible pyramid probes described above combined with 1 OI star to correct for flexure. The second mode is specific to GSAOI, as this instrument can also provide a fast Tip-Tilt guiding capability. This is based on an On-Detector Guide Window (ODGWs) technology (see here for more details). The ODGWs are used in a fast readout mode, providing the Tip-Tilt information based on the centroid position of the stars. In this mode, one visible star (one of the three probes) is still needed for slow focus compensation. This mode is called 1+3, i.e., one visible focus NGS and three fast near-infrared Tip-Tilt NGSs. Only the 3+1 mode will be offered during SV and the first period of operations.