Gemini COVID-19 & Annual Telescope Maintenance Updates

This month’s COVID-19 case counts in Chile and Hawai‘i have continued the reversal described in the last e-News for the Gemini/NOIRLab Community. Operations, in particular, nightly operations in the south, and the annual maintenance shutdown in the north, are proceeding in very different COVID contexts.

Hawaiian operations are now being carried out in the context of triple-digit new case counts per day. Gemini North's annual engineering shutdown, which began on 23 August 2021, has been extended from the original end date of 10 September 2021, chiefly to enable serial working between two non-interacting “bubbles” of staff on Maunakea. The secondary mirror was coated first in the recently-upgraded coating chamber; this was completely successful, restoring 5–7% of reflectivity loss (see the figure) and the mirror was tested on-sky at the end of the first week of the shutdown. Return to normal queue operations has also been delayed due to technical issues during the week of 20 September 2021. Updates will be posted on the Gemini Observatory homepage.

Meanwhile in Chile, case counts remain very low. Gemini South summit operations remain unchanged, and preparations continue for a controlled return to office in the coming months. Gemini South's annual engineering shutdown is currently scheduled for 2–28 November 2021. We are working toward the primary mirror coating, which will be supported by Gemini South engineering personnel with support from Rubin Observatory and Gemini North coating experts (the latter working remotely). Watch for updates on the NOIRLab Science and Gemini web pages.