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GNIRS

Gemini NorthNear-IR
Last Modified: 
Tuesday, September 5, 2023 - 09:59

GNIRS is a multi-function spectrograph, covering a spectral range of 0.8−5.4 μm and providing a variety of low, medium, and high resolution modes sampled by four different camera options. It can be used with the ALTAIR AO system. GNIRS has some limited imaging capabilities.

Available For Proposals at Gemini North
For more details, see the schedules and the CfPs.

All slit spectral modes along with imaging are available. The commissioning of the Low Resolution IFU has been completed and it will be offered during the 2024A Call for Proposal. The High Resolution IFU is installed and undergoing commissioning. It will be released for science use at a later date. The short red camera is currently not available for observations.

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    • Capability
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Capability Summary

Spectroscopy

  • Resolutions
    • 1200−18000 for a 2-pixel slit (depending on the camera and grating combination)
  • Modes
    • Single Longslit (1.0−5.4 µm, read more)
      • Slit lengths of 99" (short camera) or 45" (long camera)
      • Simultaneous coverage = 40−1000 nm
    • Cross-dispersed (0.8−2.5 µm, read more)
      • Slit lengths of 7" (short camera) or 5" (long camera)
      • Simultaneous coverage = 1650 nm

Integral Field Spectroscopy

  • Modes
    • Low-Resolution IFU (1.0−2.5 µm with the short blue camera, read more)
      • Spectral resolution 1700−7200 (with the short blue camera, depending on grating)
      • Field of View 3.15" x 4.80"
      • Spatial Sampling 0.15" x 0.15"
      • Simultaneous coverage = 100−660 nm

Imaging (Read more)

  • ~10” field of view (varies with filters)
  • 0.15"/pixel (short camera) and 0.05"/pixel (long camera) spatial sampling
  • Order-blocking, broad and narrow band filters

Guiding Options (Read more)

  • PWFS2
  • Altair (NGS, LGS, LGS+P1)

Get the sensitivity
Get to the integration time calculator

GNIRS was built by NOAO in Tucson, Arizona and delivered to Cerro Pachón in late October 2003. Commissioning of the majority of the modes took place in stages during 2004. GNIRS was first made available for science use in 2004B. The instrument was damaged in 2007 while at Cerro Pachón and was repaired at Gemini North. Since 2010 it has been available for use on the Gemini North telescope. The commissioning of the LR-IFU optical sub-system provided by the University of Durham (UK) has been completed in 2023.

Announcements

June 14, 2023

GNIRS Ready for Science and IFU Update

July 8, 2022

GNIRS returns to telescope and IFU status

View All GNIRS News

Instrument Team

gn Instrument Scientists

Emanuele Paolo Farina

Brian C. Lemaux

gn Additional Support Staff

    • Jennifer Andrews
    • Zachary Hartman
    • Jennifer Miller
    • Mark Rawlings
    • Andy Stephens
    • Hyewon Suh
    • Siyi Xu

Email: gnirs_science@gemini.edu

International Gemini Observatory Participants

The International Gemini Observatory  provides the astronomical communities in six participant countries with state-of-the-art astronomical facilities that allocate observing time in proportion to each country's contribution. In addition to financial support, each country also contributes significant scientific and technical resources. The national research agencies that form the Gemini partnership include: the US National Science Foundation (NSF), the Canadian National Research Council (NRC), the Chilean Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo (ANID), the Brazilian Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação, the Argentinean Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación, and the Korea Astronomy and Space Institute (KASI). The observatory is managed by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. (AURA) under a cooperative agreement with the NSF. The NSF also serves as the executive agency for the international partnership.


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