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Australian Science Interns Begin Work With Gemini Scientists

Rhiannon Gardiner (left front) and Conor O’Neil (right front) kick off their internship at Gemini South where they will work along-side Gemini science staff for the next ten weeks. Both interns originate from Australia.

Rhiannon is working with Assistant Scientist Blair Conn (center, back) and Research Associate Djazia Ladjal (left, back) while Gemini Science Fellow Juan Madrid (right, back) plans to keep Conor busy!

Rhiannon graduated from Monash University with a degree in engineering and astrophysics and is now assigned to a project called “Spatially Resolved Spectral Analysis of Planetary Nebulae.” Conor studied cosmology and physics at the University of Queensland and is now focusing on understanding why neighboring galaxies contain vastly different numbers of globular clusters.

Welcome to Gemini Rhiannon and Conor!

Alumnos en Práctica de Australia comienzan a trabajar con Científicos de Gemini

Rhiannon Gardiner (al frente izquierda) y Conor O’Neil (derecha al frente) comenzaron su práctica profesional en Gemini Sur donde trabajarán codo a codo con el staff de ciencia de Gemini durante las próximas 10 semanas. Ambos provienen de Australia.

Rhiannon está trabajando con el Científico Asistente Blair Conn (al centro atrás) y con la Investigadora Asociada Djazia Ladjal (izquierda, atrás) mientras el Científico de Gemini Juan Madrid (derecha, atrás) planifica cómo mantener a Conor ocupado!

Rhiannon se graduó de la Universidad Monash con los grados de ingeniería y astrofísica y ahora se le asignó el proyecto llamado ” Análisis Espectral Espacialmente Resuelto de las Nebulosas Planetarias.” Conor estudió cosmología y física en la Universidad de Queensland y actualmente se enfoca en comprender la razón por la cual las galaxias vecinas contienen números sumamentes diferentes de cúmulos globulares.

Bienvenidos a Gemini Rhiannon y Conor!

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Exhibit by Artist in Residence, Colleen McLaughlin Barlow at Gemini South

Exhibition

Recently, artwork by Gemini South’s Artist in Residence Colleen McLaughlin Barlow, in conjunction with pieces by Gemini South staff, were displayed in an exciting  (and limited) display for observatory staff in Chile. Photo portraits of staff, paintings, imprints, and murals were just some of the pieces on display.

For most of November the Canadian artist visited the Gemini South facilities which provided a source of inspiration for her photos, paintings, and Japanese prints with graphite, india ink, and pastels. Gemini South staff also participated in a variety of hands-on art activities which Coleen shared. Many fond memories remain and staff at Gemini South wish Coleen well as she returns home to Vancouver.

Exhibición de Artista en Residencia, Colleen McLauglin Barlow en Gemini Sur

Una muestra de arte de la Artista en Residencia de Gemini, Colleen McLaughlin Barlow, junto con varios trabajos de los propios trabajadores de Gemini Sur, fueron exhibidos recientemente en una interesante (y limitada) muestra para el personal del observatorio en Chile. Fotoretratos del staff, cuadros, impresiones y murales fueron algunos de los trabajos de la Exhibición.

Durante todo el mes de noviembre, la artista canadiense recorrió las instalaciones de Gemini Sur, plasmando su inspiración en fotografías, linos y papel, usando grafito, tinta china y pasteles. Los trabajadores de Gemini Sur también participaron en una variedad de actividades artísticas prácticas que fueron impartidas por Colleen. Para los trabajadores de Gemini fue una experiencia enriquecedora y desean para ella los mejores recuerdos de su estadía y un seguro regreso a Vancouver.

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Gemini North in Cosmoquest

Thanks to Patrick Durrell for these very artistic High Dynamic Range (HDR) images of the Gemini North Telescope.  These were taken while filming for a Cosmoquest / Science on the Half Sphere time-lapse project in 2012.  All videos are freely available under a Creative Commons, Non-Comercial use 3.0 License. (Note: this image is not available at CosmoQuest but the full res version is available if you click on the image)

Photo Credit: Patrick Durrell

Photo Credit: Patrick Durrell associate professor at Youngstown State University

“Cosmoquest (cosmoquest.org) is a virtual research facility that provides the public with many of the opportunities professional researchers enjoy in their universities, including seminars, star parties, research through citizen science, and online community and collaboration spaces.   Members of the Ward Beecher Planetarium have partnered with CosmoQuest for a new project called ‘Science on the Half Sphere’, where materials for full-dome video systems will be made available for free to interested planetaria.   The first products of this collaboration include a new full-dome show (now available) called Cosmic Castaways, and a newly released collection of Creative Commons licensed images of the Mauna Kea Observatories.

“Fulldome still images and time-lapse sequences of the summit, telescopes, and the night sky from the summit of Mauna Kea were taken in May 2012 by Youngstown State University professor and Ward Beecher Planetarium director Patrick Durrell.  Included are images from inside some of the largest telescopes in the world, such as the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope, the Gemini North Telescope, the James-Clark Maxwell Telescope, and the  Submillimeter Array.   These images were taken as part of a National Science Foundation research grant awarded to Durrell in 2009, and are available to anyone who would like them to use in their planetarium shows or related projects.”

Keep going for a sample video and link to more.

Fisheye image of the Gemini North Telescope

Photo Credit: Patrick Durrell associate professor at Youngstown State University

Be sure to check out the Science on the Half Sphere/CosmoQuest’s for more full dome video.

 

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TBAD is installed at both Gemini Telescopes

TBAD receiver unit mounted on the top ring of the Gemini North truss.

The Transponder-Based Aircraft Detector (TBAD) is now successfully installed at both Gemini telescopes. The system is currently being integrated into the Laser Guide Star (LGS) systems at each telescope. The purpose of this system is to protect aircraft from accidental illumination during laser guide star adaptive optics operation.

To learn more about TBAD at Gemini see this article starting on page 15 of the October 2014 issue of GeminiFocus, PDF (e-reader version).

 

 

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Gemini South Families Do Big Art!

[Español abajo]

“A wonderful stress relief therapy session,” is how Gemini South’s Public Information and Outreach staff person Dalma Valenzuela expressed her experience on Saturday. Dalma, along with four of her family members, and three other Gemini staff, participated in a very hands-on art workshop hosted by Colleen McLaughlin Barlow, Gemini South’s current Artist in Residency.

The attendees enjoyed Sumi-e and shodō (japanese calligraphy at regular and at large scales), print making with the Sun, and using graphite to transfer textures. “All of the workshops are no more than 20 minutes long and are designed for non-artists,” explains Colleen.

Colleen, from Vancouver, BC, held similar experiences in the past at the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope and these can be seen at: http://colleenbarlow.com/portfolio-canada-france-hawaii-telescope.html

Familias de Gemini Sur crean arte en Grande!

“Una terapia anti stress maravillosa” es como Dalma Valenzuela, integrante del Departamento de Divulgación de Gemini Sur expresó su experiencia del día sábado. Dalma, junto a cuatro miembros de su familia, y otros 3 funcionarios de Gemini, participaron en un taller práctico de arte guiado por la actual Artista en Residencia en Gemini Sur, Colleen McLaughlin Barlow.

Los participantes disfrutaron de las técnicas de Sumi-e y Shu-Do (caligrafía japonesa en escala regular y gigante), Impresión hecha con el Sol y aplicación de grafito en texturas.
“Todos los talleres duran máximo 20 minutos y han sido creados para los “no artistas”, explica Colleen.

La artista, oriunda de Vancouver, BC realizó un trabajo similar en el Telescopio Canada Francia Hawaii, y una muestra puedes verla en http://colleenbarlow.com/portfolio-canada-france-hawaii-telescope.html

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Gemini South administrative assistant Mónica Araya’s son Jorge Muñoz immerses himself in the art and spirit of Japanese shodō under Colleen’s guidance. / Jorge Muñoz, hijo de Mónica Araya, Asistente Administrativa de Gemini Sur se deja llevar por el arte y espíritu japonés del shodō siguiendo las instrucciones de Colleen.

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