A new virtual machine implementation for running IRAF on MacOS 10.14+ is now available. You can find updated instructions at:
The repair attempted during July was not successful, and the problem on CCD2 (amplifier #5) persists. On the other hand, the noise patterns on CCD2 and CCD3 are gone.
The situation will remain like this during semester 22B since the only possible solution requires a major intervention, which is not planned for the current semester.
The repair attempted during July was not successful, and the noise problem on CCD2 persists. The situation will remain like this during semester 22B since the only possible solution requires a major intervention, which is not planned for the current semester.
Gemini North and South are accepting proposals for the Fast Turnaround (FT) program. Here, we give information specific to this proposal cycle.
Gemini South telescope has resumed nighttime operations, after having remained closed due to bad winter weather. Only IGRINS and Zorro are available, and the scheduled telescope shutdown will start next Monday, August 01.
GMOS will be removed today from the telescope to the instrument lab for the planned corrective maintenance of the CCD array, and will not be available until the end of August, when the planned telescope shutdown ends.
Gemini South telescope has remained closed the entire past week after heavy snowfall over Pachon. The large quantity of snow accumulated over the summit during the two events between July 9 and July 15 prevented the telescope from being open, with large accumulation of snow and ice on the roads as well. Additionally, commercial power was lost and its return is expected sometime during this week, although there is still no certainty about that.
Gemini South Telescope will remain closed through at least July 25th due to a large accumulation of snow and ice on the dome and roads. It is uncertain when the roads will be passable and a crew can travel to the summit to begin clearing the large amount of accumulated snow on the dome. Additionally, commercial power was lost and its return is also not expected until after the roads are cleared.
GNIRS has been reinstalled on the telescope and is ready for science use as of July 4th, 2022. All issues with the filter wheels have been fixed and other refurbishment projects have been completed. All slit spectral modes are now available in addition to imaging. The Low Resolution (natural seeing) IFU is installed and is undergoing commissioning. It will be released for science use at a later date. Fabrication of the High Resolution (AO-assisted) IFU is ongoing and is expected to arrive in Hilo at the end of 2022.
A patch release of DRAGONS, v3.0.3, is now available. DRAGOSN v3.0.3 is a patch release that offers an automated handling of the GMOS-S amplifier #5 that failed in January. The patch also includes a few other bug fixes.
If you already have DRAGONS v3.0 installed, a simple "conda install dragons=3.0.3" will update the package. For further instructions and details, see https://www.gemini.edu/observing/phase-iii/reducing-data.