Regularly updated Google Doc: Science community FAQ on telescope shutdown

NSF's OIR Lab is monitoring the development of COVID-19. To ensure the safety of its staff and the public, it has been decided as a precautionary measure to suspend public visits to Cerro Tololo and Cerro Pachón in Chile until further notice.

Please check our website regularly as any new changes will be communicated on this page.

The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. (AURA), on behalf of the Gemini Observatory, is soliciting competitive proposals to design and build five (5) Laser Launch Telescopes (LLTs) for the Gemini North Adaptive Optics facility (GNAO), a multi-conjugate adaptive optics system currently under development.

The complete Request for Proposal (RFP) documentation related to this solicitation will be available for download on the AURA Central Administrative Services website in early March. 

The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. (AURA), on behalf of the Gemini Observatory, is soliciting Request for Proposals (RFP) for an Adaptive Optics Bench (AOB) in support of the Gemini North Adaptive Optics facility (GNAO), a multi-conjugate adaptive optics system.

All documentation relating to this solicitation are available for download at the AURA Central Administrative Services website.

The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. (AURA), on behalf of the Gemini Observatory, is soliciting Request for Proposals (RFP) for a Real Time Controller (RTC) in support of the Gemini North Adaptive Optics facility (GNAO), a multi-conjugate adaptive optics system.

- Submission has now closed -

Request for Proposal: Gemini North Adaptive Optics Imager

The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. (AURA), on behalf of the Gemini Observatory, is soliciting competitive proposals to design and build the Gemini North Adaptive Optics Imager (GNAOI) for use on the Gemini North Telescope.

July 31: Gemini North remains closed for observations. We would at this time have been in the scheduled engineering shutdown, but the continued lack of reliable access to Maunakea has delayed the start of that work. With the approaching Hurricanes Erick and Flossie bracketing the weekend, a small crew ascended to the summit this morning (31-Jul) to leave the facility in a safe state. Once we regain reliable summit access we will commence and complete the shutdown, but to limit the loss of time in 2019B have deferred the planned primary mirror coating until 2020.

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