An Early Start on 2018B Programs

For various reasons, including weather, target Right Ascensions (RAs), and instrument availability, the regular queue is somewhat thin at the end of Semester 2018A. Therefore, staff have been encouraging Principal Investigators (PIs) and National Gemini Offices (NGOs) to bring observations forward from the B Semester, where their RA distributions make sense, and making an early start on those where time becomes available. Note that on Gemini South, GMOS is currently not available (see above), so we’re particularly looking for observations with FLAMINGOS-2. Of course this also fits with the new “persistent Band 1s,” for which PIs are able to start their Band 1 observations early (and run on into the subsequent semester). We’re grateful to NGOs and PIs who have taken this opportunity.