Contributions by Gemini staff
News for Users
The following compilation includes “New for Users” updates from
all 2014 issues of GeminiFocus. Stories are presented here in reverse
chronological order, with the most recent issue first. (Some of the
stories were updated in a subsequent issues; this is indicated at the
end of each story.)
January 2015
Science User Support Department
Figure 1.
The FLAMINGOS-2
gate valve mechanism,
situated in the tunnel
between the two halves
of the cryostat. The front,
temperature-cyclable
part houses the MOS
wheel, and the rear
includes the camera
optics and detector.
Formed in mid-2014, the Science User Support Department (SUSD) is intended to provide
sustained attention to post-observing support. The new department is largely a reorganization and will consolidate effort that has been distributed around Gemini, including data
reduction software development, National Gemini Office interactions, helpdesk, data-reduction-forum stewardship, and archive coordination.
Joanna Thomas-Osip manages the new department, having transitioned from a Science Operations Specialist to the post on September 15th. Joanna has a Ph.D. in astronomy from the
University of Florida, as well as postdoctoral research and project management experience at
both MIT and Las Campanas Observatory/Giant Magellan Telescope. Joanna’s vision for SUSD
is to create a collaborative community of users and staff by “encouraging interactions that
induce constructive interference in our feedback cycle.” In other
words, feedback and solutions should flow back-and-forth between users in a cycle that fosters constant improvements.
For issues relating to user support, please feel free to contact Joanna at [email protected], or look for her at the January Gemini
Users Meeting in Toronto (Ontario, Canada).
Update on FLAMINGOS-2
As reported in the October 2014 issue of GeminiFocus, FLAMINGOS-2 is back on sky with image quality now good over the entire
34
GeminiFocus
2014 Year in Review
January 2015