Markus Kissler-Patig
Director’s Message
Gemini starts 2015 with the successful implementation of our
Fast Turnaround program — a world-wide innovation in the
observatory proposal process. We also look back at a record
number of Gemini publications in 2014, and ahead at new
instrumentation on the horizon.
Fast Turnaround (FT) Proposals —
Have You Heard About Them Yet?
The first Fast Turnaround (FT) recipients have already received their data, having proposed
by the program’s initial deadline at the end of January. Users who were slower to start applied for the deadline at the end of February. What? You missed the February deadline as
well? No worries, the next proposal submission deadline is at the end of March, and then
the end of April, and then the end of May... you get the picture.
From now on, whenever you have a great idea, or need some complementary data, you
will not need to wait for months to get observing time anymore. It will always be time to
submit your proposal. And the best part: You can get the corresponding data within about
six weeks (assuming your object is available in the sky — which is now the only limit). No
more waiting for data. Oh, and if your proposal wasn’t successful? Just update it with the
comments from your eight referees and resubmit it again for the next month’s cycle!
We are extraordinarily excited to be the first observatory to introduce such a “fast turnaround” mode — to complement our regular, twice annual, Call for Proposals, and our yearly
Call for Large and Long programs. This scheme has the potential to revolutionize observational astronomy, especially in the era of growing synergies between great observatories.
April 2015
GeminiFocus
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