Next Semester: 2000B

The call for proposals and proposal deadline for the first semester with Gemini North have been postponed. Please read a statement containing the conclusions and recommendations of the recent readiness review for further details.

As part of the release of information supporting the first call for proposals, a blocked schedule showing the available time in classical and queue blocks, as well as scheduled engineering time, will be presented here. This will be updated to show the classically-scheduled observing runs after approval by the ITAC and Director.

Instrument Availability

Note that all capabilities in semester 2000B are being made available on a shared-risks basis.

Instruments predicted to be available in this semester are listed below. This list is subject to change and, in some cases, subject to ongoing discussions. Note the limitations on the time available with certain instruments.

• Facility instruments:
• NIRI - near-IR imager. NIRI is expected to be available for the whole semester.
• Visiting instruments:
• Hokupa'a - natural guide star AO system with QUIRC near-IR camera (both loaned by University of Hawaii). Hokupa'a and QUIRC are expected to be available for a total of up to about 5 weeks (but may be subject to lunar phase limitations as QUIRC is often used on the UH2.2m telescope during bright time).
• OSCIR - 10 and 20um imaging and 10um spectroscopy (subject to negotiation with University of Florida). OSCIR is expected to be available for a total of up to four weeks, nominally in a pair of two-week blocks.

See the science instruments section for more detailed capabilities. Guidelines when deciding between NIRI and Hokupa'a + QUIRC for near-IR imaging are available.

Neither Michelle nor GMOS will be offered this semester. CIRPASS, a fibre-fed integral field unit near-IR spectrograph for which we are negotiating use with the University of Cambridge, will not be offered this proposal round. (However, see the CIRPASS instrument status page for possible limited availability at the end of 2000).

Operational Modes

Facility instruments are expected to be available in both queue and classical modes. Visiting instruments will be available in classical mode only. Note that there is a minimum time that can be request for both modes.

The following modes will not be offered in Semester 2000B: observation of non-sidereal objects, "quick response" observations, remote observing and eavesdropping. No other visitor instruments will be permitted.

Time Availability

The amount of observing time available in this semester will depend on the demands of telescope engineering and instrument commissioning. Current estimates indicate a likely range for each partner as listed below and assume approximately 50% engineering time during the first semester, as recommended by the Gemini Science Committee.

Last update November 1, 1999; Phil Puxley