Markus Kissler-Patig
Director’s Message
2014: A Successful Year — 2015: Exciting Prospects
As the end of 2014 nears we can proudly look back at a very productive and successful year
for Gemini. In 2014, we brought our users several innovative programs, including a highly
oversubscribed first round of Large and Long programs and the associated Priority Visitor
mode (viewable here). The latter is working well and has now expanded into all of Gemini’s
regular programs. Gemini North cruised through the year with its four instruments and one
adaptive optics system (almost making us forget about the unfortunate dome shutter failure
events). Meanwhile, Gemini South caught up to its twin‘s full suite of four instruments by
adding the Gemini Planet Imager to regular operations. This completes the telescope’s fourinstrument suite, in addition to the GeMS Multi-Conjugate Adaptive Optics System.
Gemini also introduced some subtle changes during 2014. For instance, for the U.S. user
community, Phase II of the proposal preparation process is now supported by Gemini staff,
rather than the National Optical Astronomy Observatory staff. We also started subsidizing
students accompanying senior observers in the “Bring One, Get One” scheme (viewable
here). Additionally, Gemini users can now exchange code, tips, and tricks through our new
Data Reduction User Forum (view here).
In 2014, we also welcomed our first limited-term partner: the Republic of Korea, through
the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute. Australia, which is not able to remain a
full partner beyond 2015, also signed a limited-term partnership agreement (via Australia
Astronomy Limited) to remain with Gemini as a limited-term partner through 2016.
Overall, we realized a welcome net gain in our user community in 2014.
January 2015
GeminiFocus
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