Gemini e-Newscast #37

1. Abstract deadline for Gemini Science and User Meeting is Friday!

The abstract deadline for the Gemini Science and User meeting is this Friday, April 27. The deadline is firm for consideration of contributed talks. There is a great program planned for the meeting in San Francisco, July 17-20. It includes an excellent slate of invited speakers and contributed science, dedicated discussions with the Gemini Science and Technology Advisory Committee (STAC) to define future instrumentation offerings, and opportunities to work with Gemini and National Gemini Office staff on preparing observations and data reduction. More information is available at the meeting website http://www.gemini.edu/gsm12.

2. Seeking participants for the Gemini Users' Committee

Gemini is establishing a separate Users' Committee, which will provide feedback to the Observatory on all areas of its operations that affect them as current users of the facility. Gemini will use this information to improve the service it provides to users. Please send suggestions for committee members to Nancy Levenson nlevenson@gemini.edu. Self-nominations are welcome. Replies by May 10 are most valuable.

3. Great response to GeMS/GSAOI community commissioning targets

The Gemini Multi-Conjugate Adaptive Optics System (GeMS) team thanks the user community for their lively and rapid response to the request for community commissioning targets for observations with the Gemini South Adaptive Optics Imager (GSAOI). This program is a way for potential users to get involved in advance of formal System Verification, which we expect at the end of the year, following planned work off the telescope during the Chilean winter. Unfortunately, poor weather prevented any community observations during the first run during April. If community targets are observed during the upcoming run at the end of the month, the data will be made publicly available immediately. See http://www.gemini.edu/sciops/instruments/gsaoi/call-community-commissioning-targets for more information about the program.

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