Altair

Gemini North AO system

ALTAIR (ALTtitude conjugate Adaptive optics for the InfraRed) is the facility natural/laser guide star adaptive optics system of the Gemini North telescope.

It can feed a corrected beam to Gemini instruments NIRI and GNIRS.

Deploying ALTAIR is "transparent" for the science instrument, as it reproduces the telescope focal ratio (f/16), pupil size and pupil position.

ALTAIR is usable in the 1 - 2.5 micron range, with best results achieved in the H and K bands. L- and M-band performance is poor because of the low (~15%) transmittance of the ALTAIR optics in those bands and the greatly increased thermal background.

Available For Proposals at Gemini North
For more details, see the schedules and the CfPs.
Altair is currently available in: NGS & LGS+ P1 modes. LGS+TTGS availability will be confirmed shortly after the post shutdown engineering nights (december 2024)

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