A&G Engineering at Gemini North

Gemini North will shut down from 26-October to 13-November inclusive, to carry out essential maintenance on the Acquisition & Guiding (A&G) unit and instruments. Originally, a primary mirror coating was planned at this time, but limits on our summit staffing due to the COVID-19 pandemic preclude that. This is the second time the coating has been unavoidably postponed (it was originally scheduled for July 2019, which unfortunately coincided with the onset of protests on Maunakea) and it will be a top priority when fuller access to the summit becomes possible. Also, due to COVID restrictions, this shutdown will be carried out by a reduced crew, and has been extended by three nights as a result. In addition to a long list of maintenance tasks on the various A&G modules, we will also be replacing the GNIRS cold heads, carrying out maintenance on GMOS mechanisms, continuing to work on the Altair AO system and installing a new filter in `Alopeke.