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Semester 2009B Time Distribution

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Gemini North: Time Availability and Distribution

A minimum of 85% of the time will be available for science use on Gemini North in 2009B. This amounts to 156 nights, and includes a Gemini staff allocation and 15 nights for GNIRS Science Verification (SV) and possibly other Observatory strategic programs. A separate Call will be issued for GNIRS SV time. The remaining time will be used for various observatory maintenance tasks, GNIRS commissioning and commissioning of new CCDs for GMOS-N; any unused engineering time will be returned to science. Note that historically around 5% of each semester's science time is used to complete highly ranked programs from the previous two semesters to which the ITAC granted rollover status. The number of hours allocated to each partner in 2009B is given in the following table.

Partner Estimated Hours Available
US 614
UK 282
Canada 156
Australia 43
Argentina 21
Brazil 22
Univ. of Hawaii (host)
159
Gemini Staff
118
Total
1415 (=141n)

Gemini South: Time Availability and Distribution

A minimum of 80% of the time will be available for science use on Gemini South in 2009B. This amounts to 147 nights, and includes a Gemini staff allocation, 18 nights of NICI campaign science, and 6 nights for Flamingos-2 Science Verification (SV). A separate Call will be issued for Flamingos-2 SV time. The remaining time will be used for various observatory maintenance tasks, and Flamingos-2 and MCAO commissioning activities. Any unused engineering time will be returned to science. Note that historically around 5% of each semester's science time is used to complete highly ranked programs from the previous two semesters to which the ITAC granted rollover status. The number of hours allocated to each partner in 2009B is given in the following table.

Partner Estimated Hours Available
US 551
UK 251
Canada 136
Australia 35
Argentina 17
Brazil 19
Chile (host) 119
Gemini Staff
104
Total
1232 (=123n)

Time Adjustments

To maintain overall balance amongst the partnership, the values shown above for both Gemini North and South have been adjusted from the nominal partner shares as a result of actual time charged through 2008B. Time trades between partners are also included. The time allocations shown here were recommended by the Operations Working Group in January 2009. The number of nights is approximated by int(hours/10).



Last update 19 February, 2009; Sandy Leggett

Gemini Observatory Participants