When approval has been given and time allocated, the Principal Investigator (P.I.) of the observing team will be notified by his or her National Gemini Office. When notified, the PI or observer should download the Visitor Support Preparation Form (PDF), the Medical Disclaimer and the Liability Notice, fill them out, and return the completed forms at least 4 weeks prior to your observation run. Also, the PI or observer should read this information section for important information about the observing run.
Visiting astronomers are responsible for all of their own air travel arrangements (visas, airline tickets, insurance, funds, etc.). Gemini will make hotel (see hotel and B&B lists) and car rental reservations (see car agencies list) in Hilo (or Honolulu, if needed) and at Hale Pohaku. Visitors must ensure that the various preparation forms are returned before the specified deadlines. Visitors wanting to spend some vacation time on the island are urged to make those arrangements through their own travel agency. Visitors are responsible for payment of rental car and hotel room charges. Hale Pohaku lodging/meal charges will be collected upon departure or billed to the proper party.
By accepting observing time, the Principal Investigator agrees to be responsible for all charges incurred. At the end of the run, the visiting astronomer shall settle his/her account and indicate expenses incurred (tapes, lodging, etc.) for himself and his team. Chargeable items include:
Payments must be made in U.S. funds by cash, credit card, check or money order payable to Gemini Observatory. Gemini will not schedule observing time for any P.I. who has overdue charges from a previous run.
Each individual reacts differently to working at high altitude. Observers proposing to work on Mauna Kea should be medically fit for such work and not have conditions that would be inconsistent with work at high altitude. Gemini and those acting in its behalf have no liability with respect to the risks associated with work at the telescope by observers. Visitors are not required to produce a high-altitude medical certificate, but are required to sign a Medical Disclaimer. Please see the Guidelines for Minimum Risk at Mauna Kea and information on High Altitude Illnesses.
You are strongly encouraged to arrive on the Big Island in time to spend at least half a day in the office meeting with your allocated Observing Support Scientist and one night acclimatizing at the lodge of Hale Pohaku before your run is scheduled to start. Upon your arrival, please see Kalena Quinones for your safety and operations orientation. If requested, a GSA license and office keys will be issued, alarm system training conducted, and a workstation and computer account assigned. After meeting with your Observing Support Scientist, you will need to acclimatize at Hale Pohaku for the night.
Gemini does not provide a vehicle for observers, but will provide transportation between Hale Pohaku and the summit of Mauna Kea. It is suggested that you rent a vehicle to get to Hale Pohaku (please see car agencies list for restrictions), or it may be possible to ride up with Gemini staff pending the vehicle schedule. If you intend to drive a Gemini vehicle, a GSA license is required (see the GSA Application Form.)
After your observing run is over, it is requested that an Observing Run Report be completed prior to your departure.
Acknowledgement Text
Papers containing data from the Gemini telescopes should
include the following general acknowledgement:
Based on observations obtained at the Gemini
Observatory, which is operated by the Association of Universities for Research
in Astronomy, Inc., under a cooperative agreement with the NSF on behalf of the
Gemini partnership: The National Science Foundation (United States), the
Science and Technology Facilities Council (United Kingdom), the National
Research Council (Canada), CONICYT (Chile), the Australian Research Council
(Australia), CNPq (Brazil), and SECYT (Argentina)
and, if appropriate, please acknowledge the provision of visiting instrument(s) as described in the relevant “documents” web pages for that instrument.
The “documents” sections also list reference(s) that should be cited to describe facility and visiting instruments.
Kalena Quinones | March 21, 2001