Author Archives:

2019A ITC Observation Overheads

Posted on by

The 2019A version of the Gemini Integration Time Calculators (ITCs) gives estimates of the observing overheads for all instruments and modes (except for GSAOI which will be released later). The overheads include the correct number of acquisitions (one for every … Continue reading →

Posted in ITC, Public | Comments Off on 2019A ITC Observation Overheads

2018B ITC Improvements

Posted on by

The 2018B Integration Time Calculator (ITC) includes many improvements: – Support for summing GMOS IFU elements with an aperture (see figure below) – Automatically set the GSAOI Strehl in the web form – Relabel obsolete components as “Unavailable” (while retaining … Continue reading →

Posted in 2018 June Release, ITC, Public | Comments Off on 2018B ITC Improvements

Revert Changes

Posted on by

The old OT has a way to “undo” mistakes by deleting the local copy of your program and re-downloading the previous version from the Gemini database. However, this is not obvious and the process is not intuitive. The new 2018B … Continue reading →

Posted in 2018 June Release, Observing Tool | Comments Off on Revert Changes

2018B Observing Tool

Posted on by

The 2018B Observing Tool (OT) to be released at the end of May features a 5 micron “lucky” image mosaic of Jupiter taken with NIRI on the Gemini North telescope.  See the press release for more details.

Posted in 2018 June Release, Observing Tool, Public | Comments Off on 2018B Observing Tool

2018A OT Elevation Plot

Posted on by

The 2018 OT Elevation Plot has been updated so that the light-gray area indicates the time between sunrise/sunset and 12° twilight.  This is a change from previous versions where light-gray indicated the time between 12° and 18° twilights.  This new … Continue reading →

Posted in 2017 December Release, Observing Tool | Comments Off on 2018A OT Elevation Plot

2018A ITC Improvements

Posted on by

The 2018A ITC includes many improvements: – Add support for GMOS IFU-2 mode with the new Hamamatsu CCDs – Add support for GNIRS spectroscopy with Altair – Update the Gemini telescope mirror reflectivity – Show the SED brightness normalization of … Continue reading →

Posted in 2017 December Release, ITC | Comments Off on 2018A ITC Improvements

Disabling Automatic Guide Star Search

Posted on by

The 2018A OT makes it easier to disable the Automatic Guide Star (AGS) selection, useful for example, for unguided non-sidereal observations.  Either set the Auto Guide Search to “Off” (as shown above), or just delete the automatically selected guide star in the … Continue reading →

Posted in 2017 December Release, Observing Tool | Comments Off on Disabling Automatic Guide Star Search

New Target Types

Posted on by

The 2018A OT includes several new target types to facilitate planning your Gemini observations.  Previously the only target types available were the “Base” (the pointing center), the guide star (OIWFS, PWFSn, or AOWFS), and a single “User” target for all other … Continue reading →

Posted in 2017 December Release, Observing Tool | Comments Off on New Target Types

2018A Observing Tool

Posted on by

The 2018A Observing Tool (OT) to be released in December features an image of the interacting galaxy pair NGC 1531 and NGC 1532 imaged with the Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph (GMOS) on the Gemini South telescope. See the Gemini Image Gallery for more … Continue reading →

Posted in 2017 December Release, Observing Tool | Comments Off on 2018A Observing Tool

Timing Widow Import

Posted on by

The 2017B OT supports importing observation timing windows as a text file.  For example: # Start (UT) Duration Repetitions Period # yyyy-mm-dd hh:mm:ss hh:mm #### hh:mm:ss # Windows from 10-11 UT for the entire month of July: 2017-07-01 10:00:00 01:00 … Continue reading →

Posted in 2017 June Release, Observing Tool, Public | Comments Off on Timing Widow Import