Community input sought on the Gemini Observatory Transition Plan
The withdrawal of the UK from the Gemini partnership after 2013 requires a reduction in the Gemini budget for operations and maintenance. Over the past six months, the Gemini Observatory has worked with the Gemini Board to develop a transition plan that accomplishes this reduction and maintains essential service to the Gemini partners. The Gemini Board has reviewed and discussed this plan and is now requesting public comment. Larry Ramsey, Chair of the Gemini Board has stated "The Gemini Board of Directors has worked with the observatory leadership since this last March on several iterations of this Transition Plan. While some aspects in this plan may well change, the Board feels it is appropriate at this time to make it public in the interest of transparency and informing the Gemini partner communities."
Click here to download a copy of the Transition Plan.
Community input is desired. AURA, the Gemini Observatory, and the Gemini Board will take all comments into consideration in finalising the long range plan for Gemini. Please submit comments by e-mail to the Australian Gemini Board member Prof. Peter Quinn (peter.quinn -@- uwa.edu.au), with a copy to the Australian Gemini Scientist Dr Stuart Ryder (ausgo -@- aao.gov.au), by 15 October 2010.
AusGO welcomes two new Magellan Fellows to its Chile-based staff
Following the ANSOC-funded extension of Australia's access to the twin Magellan 6.5m telescopes in Chile up to mid-2011, the AAO set out to recruit two new Magellan Fellows to replace David Floyd who has relocated from Chile to the University of Melbourne, and Ricardo Covarrubias who will relocate to the AAO in December 2009. Dr Francesco Di Mille and Dr Shane Walsh started their Magellan Fellowships in August 2009. They will be on secondment to the Carnegie Observatories in La Serena, Chile for the next two years, performing support duties for visiting observers at the Magellan telescopes and carrying out self-directed astronomical research. Their third and final year will be spent doing research full-time at an Australian institute of their choice.
Francesco obtained his PhD in astronomy at the University of Padua in Italy in 2007, and is on leave as resident astronomer at the Asiago Observatory in Italy. His research interests include active galactic nuclei, and studying the physical conditions and motions of gas around the AGN using optical integral field spectroscopy. He is also involved in searches for extragalactic novae. In his final year Francesco will be based at the University of Sydney working closely with Prof. Joss Bland-Hawthorn.
Shane obtained his PhD in astronomy from the Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics at ANU in 2008. During his PhD, Shane discovered a new dwarf satellite galaxy of the Milky Way called Bootes II by sifting through data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. He plans to use Magellan to follow up new candidate dwarf galaxies which emerge from the SkyMapper surveys at Siding Spring. In his final year Shane will be hosted by the new Curtin Institute of Radio Astronomy at Curtin University in Perth working with Prof. Steven Tingay.
Demystifying the Gemini Queue - Workshop Monday 29 June 2009
Henry's presentation is now available in PowerPoint and PDF format.
The Australian Gemini Office is pleased to announce an informal workshop entitled Demystifying the Gemini Queue with Gemini Science Fellow Dr Henry Lee, who is currently visiting Australia from the Gemini South Observatory in La Serena, Chile. He will cover the following topics, amongst others:
- How the Gemini queue works
- Using Observing Condition constraints to your advantage
- Frequently-made mistakes in Phase 2 preparation
The format will be a presentation by Henry followed by a moderated question and answer session. Refreshments will be provided.
The workshop will be held at the AAO on Monday June 29, from 2:00-4:00pm in the conference room. Those who cannot attend in person will be able to participate via video conference; please contact Simon O'Toole (otoole -@- aao.gov.au) to make further arrangements. We encourage all Gemini users and prospective users to make use of this valuable opportunity!
Australian Gemini Office, ausgo -@- aao.gov.au
The Australian Gemini Office (AusGO) is operated by the
Australian Astronomical Observatory (