Weather Impacts GeMS Run

Weather Impacts GeMS Run

Bad weather and poor seeing significantly impacted the recent run of the Gemini Multi-Conjugate Adaptive Optics Systems (GeMS) and the Gemini South Adaptive Optics Imager (GSAOI). Unfortunately this prevented most of the planned observations from being completed.

Only a small portion of data were obtained for the Large and Long Program (LLP) and Guaranteed Time (GT) programs, and for two queue programs, one from Korea and another from Japan.

During the run (April 13 – 21) we expected to continue the observations for the LLP lead by Dr. Tobias Fritz, complete important observations for the Australian Guarantee time program, and observe high priority targets for queue programs.

GSAOI was removed from the telescope on April 22 and replaced with the Gemini Planet Imager (GPI). GSAOI laser observations will resume again in early June 2016 at Gemini South.

The next GeMS/GSAOI run will be held the first week of June 2016.

GSAOI on the uplooking port on the Gemini South telescope.