The Gemini Observatory What we are

The Gemini Observatory What we are: • • Two 8 m telescopes, capable of forefront imaging and spectroscopy at optical and IR wavelengths. A young Observatory designed to enable and support the observational programs of a broad, international community of astronomers. What we want to be: • • • The Observatory that consistently delivers the highest quality data allowed by conditions that will lead to breakthroughs in astrophysics. That continues to evolve to provide breakthrough capabilities An Observatory that provides the partnership with a lasting scientific legacy. How we will get there: • • Engaging the partners in the evolution and development of the Observatory Operating the Observatory so it maintains leadership in a well chosen, focused number of observational capabilities that will enable breakthroughs in astrophysics by the Gemini partners 1

The Gemini Observatory What we are: • • Two 8 m telescopes, capable of forefront imaging and spectroscopy at optical and IR wavelengths. A young Observatory designed to enable and support the observational programs of a broad, international community of astronomers. What we want to be: • • • The Observatory that consistently delivers the highest quality data allowed by conditions that will lead to breakthroughs in astrophysics. That continues to evolve to provide breakthrough capabilities An Observatory that provides the partnership with a lasting scientific legacy. How we will get there: • • Engaging the partners in the evolution and development of the Observatory Operating the Observatory so it maintains leadership in a well chosen, focused number of observational capabilities that will enable breakthroughs in astrophysics by the Gemini partners 2

The Gemini Observatory How we will get there: • Engaging the partners in the evolution and development of the Observatory • • • Ensure a vigorous visitor program of scientists and engineers Target community leaders Initiate a staff exchange program with partner institutions Host workshops and seminars Ensure current and future development programs are done in partnership with community institutions Operating the Observatory so it maintains leadership in a well chosen, focused number of observational capabilities that will enable breakthroughs in astrophysics by the Gemini partners • Promote vibrant scientific life in Hilo and La Serena • Promote a culture of innovation at the Observatory 3

Gemini’s Environment 2000 SIRTF Keck I&II Keck-Inter. SOFIA OS GM Gemini S Ho Gemini N kup a’a ESO-VLTI UT 1, UT 2, UT 3, UT 4 Magellan 1&2 HET LBT NGST ALMA SIM VLA-upgrade Michelle NIFS ALTAIR + LGS GAOS -> MCAO T-RECS GNIRS NICI Flam. 2 2000 2011 2015 2010 CELT OWL and maybe LSST GSMT… VISTA Exploitation of the decade of adaptive optics The era of the “giants” 4

Jean Rene Roy here 5

A 10 year perspective Gemini in 2010 • The Gemini N&S Telescopes – The capabilities – The operating modes • The Gemini Observatory in 2010 – – – The competitors Our neighboors in Hawaii and Chile The science legacy: the GSA Internal scientific life Innovation culture • The Gemini Observatory in 2020 -2040 6

The Gemini N&S Telescopes 2010 Telescope capabilities • Optimize capabilities exploiting Gemini fine IR imaging – Produce highest strehl ratios imaging capability allowed by AO techniques and natural conditions on MK/CP • • Implement AO correction over the largest field (MCAO) Optimize observatory/telescope environment for best IQ Ensure maximum sky coverage for AO imaging (NGS) Maximize mid infrared imaging field of view – 1 -2 arcmin mid IR imager – Push mid IR spectroscopic capabilities – Mid IR is most direct link with ALMA science – Maximize IFU field size capability exploiting optimal detector real estate • Optical Super IFU (Simon Morris) • Near IR: GIRMOS (MCAO) and Super NIFS (OH suppression, multiple LGS) 7

Gemini N&S 2010 operation modes • Designed to maximize scientific return to partnership • ISS 3 -instrument capability on both telescopes by 2004 – Queue observation optimization techniques now used • 70 -75% queue observing, 20 -25% remote, real-time data assessment, 10 -5% classical observing in mid 2004 – Classical observing restricted to ‘large’ collaborative projects or “mini -queues” – Based on complete implementation of high level software by 2003 • Issues – “Observing” will be difficult for the “untrained” – Observations will be extensively pre-planned, highly constrained (essential for Laser AO) – no different from HST observations – PI’s ‘observing’ role will be target selection and data assessment – Continuing disintermediation of National Gemini Office's role – Delivery of fully working instruments is critical – Delivery of front-end user Tools essential 8

The Gemini Observatory 2010 our competitors • Who are they? – Ground-based: VLT, Keck, Subaru, HET, etc… Magellan, MMT; ALMA, SKA (for $) – Space based: SIRTF, NGST, SNAP • How do we position ourselves? – We must offer unique capability – Scientific complementarity with ALMA and NGST 9

The Gemini Observatory 2010 -our neighbors in Hawaii and Chile • We must go beyond “good neighbor” relationship – Trade capabilities and telescope time • HIRES on Keck and UVES on VLT vs Michelle and T-Recs time • MCAO imaging vs. ? – How to engage If. A beyond “just a telescope user” attitude? – Issues • If. A leadership role on future large initiative on MK (GSMT, CELT) • Post NIO effort: what if AURA looses NOAO contract? • Abingdon II process – Plan instrumentation “collectively” • Workshop jointly with Keck, VLT, Subaru, etc. ? • Role of “US System” and TSIP? 10

The Gemini Observatory 2010 Science Legacy • Fully functional Science Archive by the end of 2002 – Advanced capabilities 2004+ • Users to perform more sophisticated queries • Retrieved data more directly usable • Extracting science information from raw data and storing into catalogues • Legacy observing programs – Key science initiatives from community which are capable of winning large, multi-national allocations – International TAC capable of allocating large chunks of time, accountable to Gemini Board 11

The Gemini Observatory 2010 Science Legacy • Scientific output from Gemini Observatory – – – 2000: 1 paper in refereed journal (RJ) 2001: 2 papers in RJ 2002: estimated 20 -30 papers in RJs 2003: estimated 70 -100 papers in RJs 2004+: estimated 150+ papers in RJs • Tools to monitor impact through citation will be in place in 2002 – Science archive to link papers, citations, TAC rating proposals (phase I and II) and telescope/instrument time 12

Operating the Gemini Observatory in 2010 -maintaining balance and commitment • Focus on providing ‘leadership facilities’ to the partnership • Promote vibrant scientific life in Hilo and La Serena • Promote a culture of innovation 13

The Gemini Observatory 2010 Gemini internal science life • Promote vibrant scientific life at HBF and LS – Achieve 30 -40% research time in 2003 – Vigorous visiting program: summer interns, sabbaticals, visiting observers on extended stays – Gemini astronomers to spend a substantial time at facility instrument institution – GN&GS vigorous exchange of science staff • Issues – Expand office space – Directorship needs to stay connected to one of the site – How to maintain a “trading zone” (Peter Galison, 1997*) with fewer visiting observers? * Image and Logic – A Material Culture of Microphysics, University of Chicago Press 14

The Gemini Observatory 2010 Gemini’s innovation culture • Promote vibrant technical life in Hilo, La. Serena & Tucson – Achieve 10 -20% development time in 2003 – Vigorous visiting program: summer interns, sabbaticals, visiting engineers on extended stays – Gemini engineering/instrumentation staff to spend a substantial time at facility instrument institution – GN&GS vigorous exchange of technical/engineering staff • Issues – Encouraging Observatory based development culture balanced with support needs – Expand development space – Directorship needs to stay connected to one of the site – How to maintain a “trading zone” with few visiting instrumentalists/engineers? 15

Gemini in 2020, … in 2040? • The 20 -40 years perspective – The need for very long term plan • Issues – ESO and a group of east Asia countries (Japan, China, Korea and Taiwan) are planning for a 2040 year horizon – Planning horizon is much shorter in the Gemini partner communities • Who should assume the leadership of this thinking? • What is the Board position? – Gemini can act as a “think tank” : NIO type of resource 16

… Gemini in 2040? • Issues – The USA, largest Gemini partner, is divided and does not have a clear strategic vision – Growth we see in European and Japanese astronomy are both institutional and technology funding challenges to US “status quo” • Institutional challenges: VLT+UK, Subaru and ALMA • Interferometry, "second generation" VLT instruments and investments in AO/MCAO will be technology and funding challenges – The US fiefdom mentality is strong • Several US astronomers “fear” international collaboration • Promotion of “diversity” masks strong self-interest • Resulting “Balkanization” of US community hardly conducive to strategic long-term planning 17

… Gemini in 2040? • Issues – Resources required for modern groundbased astronomy will soon rival Particle Physics • What are the lessons learned? – How do we create a coherent “mind set” which engages the US, European and Asian astronomical communities and funding Agencies? – Our vision should go beyond CELT/GSMT/OWL (this was easy) and should extend beyond ground-based astronomy on Earth – What about a ground based lunar or asteroid based telescope? (a reasonable perspective for 2040…) – One 50 m single aperture lunar telescope, a network of 8 m+ interferometrically connected telescopes (OHANA++) – Partnership with STSc. I: added value capability to NASA for building an extraterrestrial ground based telescope 18