Mauna Kea Update

Repair work on the Gemini North shutter drive is nearing completion, with expectations that we will be back on sky the night of February 14. Because of the nature of the failure, a large (2 ton+) drive box had to be removed from high on the exterior of the dome. Once removed (after significant delays due to wind and winter weather) work was completed, which included replacing spherical bearings that keep the drive sprockets aligned and drive the large chain that opens and closes the shutter. The reassembled drive box has now been installed back in the dome. (Gemini photos by Joy Pollard.)