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UNITED STATES • UNITED KINGDOM • CANADA • CHILE • AUSTRALIA • ARGENTINA • BRAZIL

Naming of the Frederick C. Gillett Gemini Telescope

Inside This Issue

• Tribute to Dr. Frederick C. Gillett • Recent Science Highlights On The Cover: • Altair Adaptive Optics System Update “The Heart of the Trifid” The Gemini North GMOS image • Galactic Center Conference Report featured on the cover was obtained as part • Safety First at Gemini of an outreach program in Canada. See story on Page 26 for details. • The Duke of York Visits Gemini South Gemini Observatory/GMOS image Gemini North Base Facility (1)

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(5) Gemini Observatory, Isobel Hook and the GMOS System Verification Team Approximately 200 family, friends and colleagues gathered to GEMINI NORTH (8) honor the naming of the Gemini North telescope, (6) “The Frederick C. Gillett PROBES DEEP SKY WITH GMOS Gemini Telescope” in ceremonies on Mauna From the Milky Way Suburbs to the Edge of the Universe Kea and via video to Hilo, Tucson and La This recently released image obtained during commissioning galaxies falling onto each other. Also shown in this image Serena. The ceremonies and system verification of the Gemini Multi-Object are foreground, low mass stars in the outer regions of our included the unveiling Spectrograph (GMOS) on Gemini North demonstrates Milky Way that are currently under study. (7) of a dedicatory plaque, a Gemini’s ability to see virtually to the edges of the known Hawaiian makana (gift) ceremony and speeches universe. The final image is a combination of several frames using by several dignitaries. A g’,r’ and i’ filters. The image covers 5.5 arcminutes x 5.5 reception and banquet in The z=4 quasar (PMN2314+0201), visible here as the small arcminutes and the image quality (fwhm) is: 0.7” in g’ and honor of Fred and the telescope’s greenish object at center, is probably more than 10 billion r’ and 0.5” in i’ naming followed in Hilo. light years away – taking us back close to the beginnings of Pictured here are highlights our universe. Some of the smallest and faintest objects in For more information on this data see: http:// of the naming ceremony and the banquet. An image key is this image are thought to be coalescing galaxies or proto- www.gemini.edu/science/gemdf.html provided at the bottom of the Photos by Kirk Pu‘uohau-Pummill facing page. Published twice annually in June and December. Distributed to staff, users, organizations and others involved in the Gemini Observatory. Worldwide Circulation 3,400 THE FREDERICK C. GILLETT GEMINI TELESCOPE Mauna Kea, Hawai‘i, November 13, 2002

ovember 13, 2002, was a Gemini Director Dr. Matt Mountain vision, rigor and tenacity brought about beautiful day to name a characterized both Fred’s role and the what makes these Gemini telescopes so Ntelescope. Gemini spirit when he said of Fred, “His unique.” A brilliant sun gleamed off the silver Thanks to Gemini’s advanced Internet Gemini dome on Mauna Kea. This day connection, many others in the Gemini the thin mountain air, so often so jagged family who were not present on the and biting with the high-mountain cold, mountain were also able to participate. was almost balmy. And from inside the The ceremony was broadcast via the dome came the triumphant strains of Observatory’s Internet links to the Bach’s “Toccata and Fugue in D Minor.” Gemini offices at the Hilo Base Facility, the Tucson office and to Gemini South It was a special day. It was a day when in Chile. everyone came together to name Gemini North “The Frederick C. Gillett Gemini One of the highlights of the ceremony Telescope.” was the presentation to the Gillett family of a makana (Hawaiian ceremonial gift) Approximately 60 friends, colleagues, by Kimo Keali‘i Pihana on behalf of the officials and family members watched as people of Hawai‘i. A cultural practitioner the plaque with the telescope’s name was and respected Hawaiian elder in his own officially unveiled. In a way, the plaque right, Pihana also serves as a Mauna Kea itself, a deserved tribute to the man who Ranger, helping to oversee the safety of had done so much to make Gemini a those who journey each day up the slopes of Mauna Kea in the pursuit of astronomy. reality, seemed to go beyond the naming. The plaque that is now mounted overlooking Gemini North, “The There beneath the great primary mirror, it Frederick C. Gillett Gemini Telescope.” Somehow that seemed fitting, too. was indicative of the spirit of Gemini.

1) Daughter Danuta Gessner (from left), son Michael and wife Marian Gillett stand in front of the plaque 2) Gemini Director Dr. Matt Mountain places a pohaku (stone) into the ceremonial Hawaiian makana (gift) held by Kimo Keali’i Pihana 3) Kimo Keali’i Pihana prepares the makana before the audience 4) Kimo Keali’i Pihana (from left); Dr. Wayne van Citters, Director of the Division of Astronomical Sciences at the National Science Foundation; Professor Robert Joseph, Chairman of the Gemini Observatory Science Committee; and Dr. William Smith, President of the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. (AURA) 5) Kimo Keali’i Pihana presents the makana to Marian Gillett as Observatory Director Dr. Mountain looks on 6) Associate Director Dr. Jean-René Roy presents the dedicatory plaque to Marian Gillett at the banquet 7) Marian Gillett greets guests at the banquet 8) Observatory Director Dr. Matt Mountain addresses audience at naming ceremony 9) Dr. Wayne van Citters addresses the ceremony attendees on Mauna Kea 10) Gemini Board Chairman Dr. Roger Davies addresses the audience on Mauna Kea 11) Celebrating the naming as the telescope moves to strains of “Toccata and Fugue in D Minor.”

Gemini Newsletter #25 - December 2002 1 The spirit of the day was captured by “We may see the children of the gods “I look forward to the day when I read Dr. Wayne van Citters, Director of the placing the first stars in the sky. in the headlines where they will say, ‘The Division of Astronomical Sciences at the Gillett Telescope Revolutionizes Our National Science Foundation, who spoke “Fred has taught us well.” Understanding.’ to the crowd. Standing with the telescope looming above, he mentioned his flight As master of ceremonies, Dr. Mountain “I predict that day will come,” Dr. Smith into Hawai‘i. It was a flight, he said, on pointed out that the imprint of Fred’s concluded. a modern jet equipped with the latest influence could be seen throughout the navigational technology in use today. telescope along with all the trials and Dr. Robert Joseph, Chairman of the struggles to realize the goal. Gemini Observatory Science Committee, And then in acknowledgement of where related to the audience some of Fred’s he stood near the highest point in “How many of us remember those many scientific achievements. “He Polynesia, he said, “Of course, ages ago arguments about the exact size of the bevels was one of the extremely small group ancient voyagers performed even more within the very last millimeter, at the very of people who helped define what an amazing feats of navigation, finding edge of our secondary mirror? And how infrared telescope actually is,” Dr. Joseph Mauna Kea after trips measured not in the vanes had to be 10 millimeters wide said. hours but in weeks and months. but no more?” he laughed. He also quoted a colleague who summed “No maps, no instruments – only what “How many of us remember those graphs up Fred’s work: “Patient, solid, committed has been called ‘An Ocean in Mind’; a which showed us why the primary mirror and always right about the facts.” visceral understanding of the water, wind, had to have a central hole of not more waves, stars, planets, the Sun and Moon than two meters to make sure we could In the evening, a reception and banquet – the space that had to be followed. focus as much energy as possible into was held at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel to those small images that make Gemini so celebrate the telescope’s naming. Gemini “Today’s feat we call navigation. It has unique? How many of us remember Fred Associate Director Jean-René Roy been suggested that theirs might be called slipping off quietly to work alone in his introduced an evening of talks filled with wayfinding. lab, taking hundreds of measurements nostalgia, friendship and love. Indeed, to make sure we had the right recipe for the banquet, complete with laughter “When I first met Fred, infrared astronomy Gemini’s silver coatings so his telescope and tears, had more the flavor of a family was an art,” Dr. van Citters said. “There could all but disappear against the IR gathering than a formal affair. was no roadmap to guide the myriad of night sky? choices that had to be made in the voyage As Danuta Gessner, one of Fred’s from then to now. The telescope – indeed “Fred Gillett, Gemini Project Scientist, daughters, said at the dinner, “Once when the development of infrared astronomy had a vision for an infrared optimized when I was much younger, I asked Fred itself, required the wayfinders, those who telescope here on Mauna Kea,” Dr. how he chose to do what he did. And he without maps and fixed signposts knew Mountain said. “This is why we are here said he’d looked up at the sky and saw a which direction to take. Fred Gillett was today.” hole that shouldn’t be there. foremost among these. Dr. William Smith, President of the “I like to think now that he’s up there “But this is only a brief pause,” Dr. van Association of Universities for Research now, and he’s filled that hole himself, and Citters told the guests. “We are restless, in Astronomy Inc. (AURA), spoke at now it’s complete.” and still wonder what is beyond where sea the ceremony of Fred’s association with and sky appear to meet. AURA.

With such telescopes such as Gemini, “Fred was from AURA’s standpoint “We may yet see back to the time when everything that we value in our scientific Kane (a Hawaiian god) separated Sky staff. He was selfless and committed. from Earth and light flooded between He was committed to science and the the two. community.

2 Gemini Newsletter #25 - December 2002 TRIBUTE BEYOND THE VISIBLE The Story of Fred Gillett, a Private Man Who Lived His Life in the Heat of the Night Ed Kennedy

Note: This article was commissioned as part of the events on November 13, 2002, to commemorate the naming of Gemini North, the “Frederick C. Gillett Gemini Telescope.” It is reproduced here in its entirety as a tribute to Fred and a recognition of the important part he played in infrared astronomy and the realization of the Gemini vision.

ne bright October morning Low and Gillett were famous – at least Gillett had been a leader in developing two years ago, two men were among the observatories that sprinkled infrared spectrometers and a leavener of Otalking as they made their way the mountaintops of northern Arizona infrared observatories. Sharing a small up Sabino Canyon. and southern California. Out of their University of Arizona telescope that Low work had come some of the seminal had helped build himself, and located Sabino Canyon is a popular recreation developments of infrared astronomy. on a peak not far from where they area outside of Tucson, Arizona. It’s They were, in fact, two of the founders were now walking, Low and Gillett had a good place to get lost in managed to take one of the the mountain quiet of the world’s first-ever peeks at the foothills and think things out. incredibly rich panoply of the Or talk things out. And since infrared sky. Before men like the desert clouds had chosen Low and Gillett, the infrared to be generous to the Santa sky was an unknown. What Catalina Mountains that fall, they had first seen as young the burbling of Sabino Creek men back in those heady days added a meditative footnote to of the early 1960’s through their conversation. their rudimentary instruments – a sky glowingly alive with the This was more than just an radiated heat of the universe ordinary conversation. It – had dominated the rest of was also a conversation held their professional lives. in metaphor. For what was actually being discussed that But it was not astronomy these morning could not yet be two men talked of that warm faced. And so the leaves were October day. It was life. And spoken aloud. The sunlight it was about the ending of life, was spoken. No doubt the and miracles. As the two old stars were spoken aloud, friends walked up the canyon too. For both men were amidst the first signs of the astronomers. And though coming winter, they talked neither could yet admit it, of how it is that everything a they’d come up here to say the man has made of his life, his long goodbye. family, what he has given, all Fred and Wayne Stein (background) doing a field experiment as part of their work at the University of the triumphs and trials of one One of the men was Frank Minnesota in the early 1960’s. of the most productive careers Low. Low had worked all in science, how everything of his life at the University of Arizona. of the field. Low had produced the first- meaning can suddenly be cut The other, a man named Fred Gillett, ever cryogenic bolometer, an infrared short. In their rather guarded, careful, was more of a peripatetic in academia. eye that led the way to modern infrared metaphorical way of talking about other But he, too, had spent a lifetime in astronomy. things that morning, they were actually astronomy. talking about death. How do you face

Gemini Newsletter #25 - December 2002 3 such a thing? How do you actually go logical man that Fred was, a fatal disease continued with the couple’s plans for about dying? And what are the chances was impossible to assimilate. But death is her to go back to Tucson to wind up of a miracle? nothing if not nonsensical. things with their house, in preparation for their anticipated move to Chile. Telescopic Sight Myelodysplastic Syndrome, or MDS as it The diagnosis had come precisely on the is commonly known, is an extremely rare cusp of the next phase of the couple’s life Everything about this story revolves disease of the bone marrow. Only about together. As Gemini Project Scientist, around telescopes. Everything about 20,000 people each year are diagnosed Fred was scheduled to help oversee the the men and women involved in with it. It is the same disease that killed completion of Gemini South. MDS was this story concerns telescopes. And celebrity scientist Carl Sagan in 1996. not going to interrupt their lives. Marian ultimately, two telescopes in particular. What happens is that the bone marrow went back to Tucson. Fred stayed on in Two new telescopes that ushered in a loses its ability to make new blood Hawai‘i. new paradigm about how astronomers cells. Transfusions and bone marrow do science. Gemini North, the first 8- transplants can sometimes postpone the It must always be remembered that Fred meter telescope specifically optimized worst, or in rare cases, even halt it. More was a scientist, first, last, and always. Fred for infrared research, was dedicated atop often than not, it is fatal. had a disciplined, achromatic mind that Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawai‘i, was famous among his colleagues for the June 25, 1999. Gemini South, its twin When Fred found out he had MDS that ability to intuitively grasp the nub. Faced in Chile, was dedicated on January 18, August in 1999, he told only a handful with some experimental quandary, armed 2002. Together, the identical telescopes of people. Anyone who ever knew him only with his habitual paper and pencil, with two of the largest single mirrors knew first of all that he was an extremely he was unrelenting. In his typical way, in the world make up what is formally private man. Except for a few colleagues quiet, low-key, out of the limelight, he known as the Gemini Observatory. and his family, for months no one knew worked until he got it. This was his great The Gemini Project, which was one of that he was even ill. He exhibited no professional strength, and he was highly the most successful major observatory symptoms of illness. He continued to respected for it. He’d been a scientist all construction programs in the latter take long bicycle rides around the Big his life. Every empirical nut would crack part of the 20th century, had been in Island (one of his favorite activities). if you hit it hard enough. Everything had part initiated by Frank Low’s visionary He hiked up in Volcano National Park, a logical solution. Everything. enterprise. Gemini Observatory had also going to see the lava pouring down to been Fred’s crowning achievement and it the ocean from Pu‘u O‘o vent. “As far What else could he do? Fred didn’t is why the Gemini telescope on Mauna as any of us knew, he was in top shape,” – couldn’t – allow anyone else to know. Kea, Hawai‘i, was named in his honor recalled Jean-René Roy, a fellow hiking He would deal with it in his own way. on November 13, 2002. enthusiast and the French-Canadian He and Marian went quietly about Associate Director of Gemini North. their preparations for moving to Chile. Getting the News Somewhere in there they’d decided to sell But in private, in the thorough, their house. This in itself was indicative Six weeks after the Hawai‘i dedication scientifically exhaustive and precise way of their emotional plight. Fred never ceremonies for Gemini North, crowded that was so typical of anything that Fred loved any place like he loved Tucson. with lei-bedecked dignitaries from undertook, he began to research the He’d been all over the world, and rented throughout the worldwide astrophysical debilitating disease. He began to spend a houses in Hawai‘i and England. But community, Fred learned the worst. lot of time trying to find out everything Tucson was home. Following a routine physical, the he could about MDS. He poured over caring and careful Dr. Alice Adee in statistics and medical tomes. In the midst of all these preparations, Hilo, Hawai‘i, had to tell Fred that Fred disappeared. “We had a meeting he was suffering from Myelodysplastic Even with his wife Marian, a registered in Tucson,” Low remembered. “Some Syndrome and fibrosis of the bone nurse, he shared very little. Certainly not meeting that Fred would never have marrow. This seemed at the time fear. It wasn’t Fred’s way. missed. He wasn’t there. Suddenly he’d nonsensical. Fred was at the peak of his dropped off the radar. Everybody was health, athletic, contentedly married for “This was just one more thing we had saying, ‘Where’s Fred?’” almost 40 years, a dedicated family man to go through,” Marian said. “Our basic with a son and two daughters, a brood attitude was, well, let’s get through it and Fred and Marian had gone to of beloved grandchildren, his name in get on with our lives. Everything will be Indianapolis, where their children lived. the scientific annals of astronomy, and all right.” A lot of things had to be talked over. plenty of creative and challenging work There were certain medical procedures ahead of him. For the careful, caring and What else could they do? Marian that could be undertaken. Fred’s age

4 Gemini Newsletter #25 - December 2002 was approaching the cutoff line for a bent. Infrared is the newest major field discoverer. As one of his biographies stem cell transplant. But even so, he was of observational research in astronomy. says, “Twice, the position of NASA still in rigorous, glowing health. Now The entire discipline is only 40 years old. Chief Scientist was filled by former Fred had to decide if he would undergo Fred’s career almost exactly spanned the students of Ney. Another student helped the agony of a stem cell transplant with time from the field’s birth until the time establish the Stratoscope Program at little hope of success. MDS had brought of the Gemini North dedication. His Princeton, and two students constructed him all the way down to a cliché: a life- entire professional life had been spent in one of the world’s largest infrared and-death decision. Infrared meetings the infrared. telescopes at Jelm Mountain, Wyoming. in Tucson somehow seemed not so One former student is a member of the important any more. A Budding Astronomer National Academy of Sciences.” Ney once remarked that Fred Gillett was the During this trip, Fred and his son Fred was from what would for years best graduate student he’d ever had. Michael took what was to be their last only half-jokingly be called the “Ed Ney bicycle ride together. Mike recalls, School of Science.” Ney was a staple at Infrared Progress “This was the first time that I noticed the University of Minnesota for almost that this thing was really affecting my 50 years. Ney was a lovable, idiosyncratic The field of infrared astronomy emerged Dad. Things just didn’t bother him, character. And because of his penchant at an ideal time for Fred. The discipline so it was shocking for me to see it get to for emerging fields of science, was was just in its formative stages when Fred him like this.” another genuine pioneer of infrared was working on his post-graduate degree astronomy. Originally a physicist, he in physics. Infrared astronomy, which When Fred had gotten the news about drifted into the infrared via consulting had seen slight development in the his illness, he was just 63 years old. He’d with the military and looking at the sky early 20th century, had been hindered by been born February 7, 1937 in Minot, through high-altitude balloons. the lack of proper instrumentation for North Dakota. He was a product of imaging the incredibly rich infrared sky. the forward-looking optimism of post- Ney, however, was fated to be known It wasn’t until 1961 when infrared war America. Infrared astronomy was more as an artificer of new ideas and astronomy really began to take off. It the perfect choice for a scholar of his nurturer of famous students than a was in that year that Frank Low at the

Fred performing a field experiment as part of his work at the University of Minnesota in the early 1960’s.

Gemini Newsletter #25 - December 2002 5 liquid helium cooled spectrometer.” Together, the pair took off into the infrared, Low’s bolometer hooked up to Fred’s helium-cooled spectrometer.

Fred’s infrared commute between Minnesota and Arizona went on for a couple of years. And then following a brush with Ney’s high-altitude balloon experiments on the East Coast, Fred landed his first real job. He’d been hired as the junior-most assistant research physicist at the University of California at San Diego. In 1966, the brand-new astrophysicist left the snow- choked climes of Minnesota for sunny California. He never went back. Along with him came his family.

Fred and Marian had been married in 1960, the same year he got his B.S. in

A projection of the partially eclipsed image of the sun on Fred’s hand during the same field experiment in Page 3 photo. physics. He’d met her through her cousin. When they moved, the couple already University of Arizona published his first By the time Fred came along, Ney, Low had their two young children, Nancy paper on germanium doped bolometers. and Neugebaur were already established and Michael. The job at UCSD paid a This instrument increased by hundreds and a definite infrared nexus was good deal more than the $200 a month of times the infrared sensing capability forming. he had earned as Ney’s research assistant. for astronomers, and even lengthened “Thank goodness I was a nurse,” Marian their range of seeing into the far infrared. Low recalls that Ney urged Fred to visit said. While Fred had been in school, Because of his bolometer, many have him in Tucson. “Fred built our first she’d supported the family. called Low the father of infrared astronomy. True or not, there is no disputing that Low’s instrument put infrared research solidly and forever on the astronomical map.

Fred showed up in the early 60’s just as Low was taking off – literally. Exploiting the possibilities of his new bolometer, Low was busy flying Learjets into the Earth’s stratosphere to reach above the heaviest atmosphere. Meanwhile, a gentleman named Gerry Neugebauer was getting ready to do his famous 2.2 micron survey atop Mount Wilson on the 62-inch reflector. Neugebauer entered the field, as many of those early pioneers, through the military. “I was a lieutenant. They ordered me to go to JPL and work on infrared,” was how he put it. He was using lead sulfide detectors. Both types of instruments were analogous to a sort of crude camera which could record a very rudimentary While in San Diego, Fred traveled to Mount Lemmon to observe as in this April, 1972 photo. smear of heat.

6 Gemini Newsletter #25 - December 2002 In 1967 Fred published his first paper propose an infrared survey mission in “It was funny,” said George Aumann, with Low. It was called “Infrared space. Their recommendations resulted who discovered the Vega Phenomenon Observations of the Planetary Nebula in the Infrared Astronomy Satellite, with Fred. “NASA went to bat for us NGC 7027.” It was only the fourth paper or IRAS for short. IRAS eventually in getting access to those detectors,” he he’d ever published. The first three had became a joint project of the U.S., the says. “The military wasn’t going to let been with Ney. Eventually he’d publish Netherlands and the United Kingdom. us have them until they learned we were more than 120 scholarly pieces, the last It consisted of a 24-inch telescope and going to cool them with liquid helium. one in 2000 on Gemini instrumentation, four different kinds of IR detectors, all When they heard that, they said sure, in collaboration with Gemini go ahead. They figured the Director Matt Mountain, then helium would explode in space Gemini Project Manager Jim anyway, since nobody had ever Oschmann, and Robert Nolan, tried to put liquid helium in then Gemini Instrumentation space before. They figured Manager. their detectors would blow to pieces with everything else.” Right from the beginning, Fred worked in the infrared. They were wrong. IRAS, “Between 1965 and 1970 which was finally launched there were 14 papers with his in January of 1983, would name on them,” says Gemini be an extremely successful Senior Astronomer Tom NASA project and one of the Geballe, who first came across most important landmark Fred’s work when he joined experiments in the history of the new Berkeley infrared infrared astronomy. astronomy group in 1969. “I suspect that that number Dr. James Houck, Professor represents far more than half of Astronomy at Cornell of all the papers published in University, recalls Fred’s infrared spectroscopy during meticulous attention to the first half-decade of infrared those 62 detectors in IRAS. astronomy. Fred was not only “He knew those detectors a pioneer, he probably was the personally,” Houck most active pioneer.” remembers. “He could tell you the characteristics of each one. The Vega Phenomenon Like they had personalities.”

Like the radiation that Fred The marriage of Fred to Marian Ruth DeGriselles on December 17, 1960 at the Lake Wilson United As a member of the IRAS Methodist Church in Minnesota. studied, most of his work was team, Houck had insisted beyond the visible, but the on extending the IRAS early 70’s brought the beginning of Fred’s cooled to 1.4 degrees above absolute zero “seeing” capabilities into the longer claim to true public visibility – his share by 127 gallons of liquid helium. In 1977 infrared wavelengths where the Vega in discovering the Vega Phenomenon. when the project officially got under Phenomenon was eventually confirmed. Many people know about this discovery, way, it was pioneering work. Fred was in It was Aumann and Fred who made the but few outside astronomy are aware it it from the beginning helping to design actual discovery. They were in England has a name or who discovered it. The and maintain the instrumentation. in 1983 overseeing the orbit-by-orbit Vega Phenomenon is the first solid calibration of the satellite when Fred scientific evidence that stars other than IRAS benefited greatly by being a noticed an anomaly in the data on Vega. the Sun might have their own planets. It child of NASA. In the 1970’s, infrared Eventually they figured out the data launched myriads of speculations about detector technology was still highly meant they had discovered a disk of extraterrestrial life. Two men started this classified military information. Since particles around Vega. - one of them was Fred. NASA was backing the project, however, the designers were able to get access to Astronomers had long speculated that Here’s how it happened: In 1975, Low, detectors which were unavailable to planets are formed from such disks, but Neugebauer and Fred were three of nine civilian astronomers. could only speculate until this discovery. infrared scientists chosen by NASA to “This should give the modelers

Gemini Newsletter #25 - December 2002 7 NASA press conference in November of 1983 that focused on the achievements of the IRAS project. In the front row, Fred is second from left and Frank Low is second from the right. something to think about,” was Fred’s the ephemerality of “celebrity science.” Ms. Ride’s opportunity. Sagan confessed characteristically understated comment to being somewhat jealous of her. when Aumann showed him his “But he never really criticized anybody,” conclusions on what they had stumbled said his daughter Nancy Richardson, The interviewer then turned to Fred. upon. It certainly did. who studied at the University of Arizona “Wouldn’t you like to go, too?” while the family was living in Tucson. “I remember when the word got “Dad would talk at home sometimes “Oh,” said Fred, “I’m so tired I’d be out, within 24 hours the BBC was about people in the business in a sort of happy to retire to my desk with all my interviewing us. The next day we got general way,” she said. information and try to understand what an excited call from NASA saying, ‘Why IRAS has told us over this past year.” do we have to learn about this in the “But when we were discussing someone, newspapers?’” Aumann laughed. “There you could tell by the tone of his voice Later in the interview he said, “I’m wasn’t anything we could have done what he really thought about them. At enjoying myself a great deal right now about it. Reporters were calling from all least I could. He had strong feelings and I don’t think I’d change places with over the world.” about who he admired, and who he anyone.” thought didn’t have it. He never said As many scientists have learned, bright anything outright. But you could tell by “That was just like dad,” Nancy said. lights and cameras are often more the tone of his voice. Anyway, I could.” exciting than the slow progression of “When the movie ‘Contact,’ came out, hard research. But Fred’s brush with At the height of the Vega Phenomenon I got a call from my daughter,” recalled public acclaim had little effect on him. publicity glare, Fred found himself Aumann. Both he and Aumann turned down an as a celebrity guest on Ted Koppel’s invitation from Carl Sagan to lecture nationally televised “Nightline” “She said, ‘Dad, go see ‘Contact’.” at Cornell on what he and Aumann television show. His fellow guests were had discovered. They were too busy Sally Ride, the first woman in space, “I asked her what for?” analyzing the data, he told Sagan. And and Carl Sagan. It was “Space Night” they were. Fred never much cottoned to on “Nightline.” First Ms. Ride was “She said, ‘Never mind. Trust me. You’ll the limelight anyway. For him, it was the interviewed, and talked about the thrill get a kick out of it.’” science that mattered, not the publicity. of going into space. Turning to Fred and In private, with his family, he always Sagan, the interviewer remarked that as “We went” said Aumann. “That part in expressed a droll sense of humor about astronomers, they must be envious of there about how the alien message from

8 Gemini Newsletter #25 - December 2002 Vega was discovered was based on our thought of him and his work. Fred had “A lot of the people at SOFIA don’t work,” he laughed. arrived at the top of his field. He didn’t understand what an important role like being there in Washington, dealing Fred played on SOFIA,” Caroff said. Soon after the papers had been written with the endless administrative minutia “Fred forced us to crystallize the science and the roar in the media over the that such top-level jobs entail. But he arguments for the project. He’s the one phenomenon had died down, Fred went learned a lot about how such projects who focused it. back to building spectrometers and get done, the pitfalls, the politics, the raising his family. It was his 15 minutes necessities of so-called Big Science. “That was Fred,” Caroff said. “What he of fame. “That was a good time for us,” brought to any project was the ability remembers Marian. “Fred had a natural talent for teamwork,” to grasp and then to conceptualize the whole. Then he did the analysis – you could never catch Fred out on a limb. He had a natural talent for convincing other people how it should be. And he never gave up, either. Ever!”

Over to NOAO

The great success of IRAS, which catalogued between 250,000 to 350,000 infrared astronomical sources (depending on which celestial camp is doing the counting), kept Fred busy for a long time. He was also Fred in his NASA office in Washington, D.C., summer 1988. getting more and more involved at Kitt Peak National Observatory, outside of Tucson. Fred NASA Interlude Caroff said who became a dear friend eventually had his hands in just about and biking buddy. every Kitt Peak infrared project in some Fred rode the success of IRAS all the way or another. He kept on plugging way to Washington. In 1987, he took During his two years at NASA, Fred was away at his infrared instrumentation a two-year sabbatical to become NASA’s the logistical point man for getting three until he climbed all the way to the top. Visiting Senior Scientist for the Infrared major projects off the ground. Two of For a few months in 1978, he even and Radio Astrophysics Branch. these projects were basically in-depth served as Kitt Peak’s Acting Director. extensions of the two most significant Though he didn’t much care for the “He didn’t want to do it,” says Larry IR projects to date, IRAS (1983) and politics of observatory administration. Caroff, who worked with Fred at NASA, Neugebauer and Leighton’s 2.2 micron Fred was proud of his association with managing several of the space agency’s survey (2MSS) in 1969. SIRTF, or Kitt Peak and he’s still famous enough IR programs. “They kept talking to the Space Infrared Telescope Facility, with Kitt Peak personnel that an him until his ears fell off,” said Caroff. is basically a follow-up of IRAS and anonymous picture of him is posted on “Finally he did it.” 2MASS is an extension of 2MSS. Fred a “Guess Who?” web page of important also played a key role in the initial stages instruments and well-known scientists The fact that Fred was hired to help of SOFIA, the Stratosphere Observatory who have worked at the facility. establish an IR presence for NASA for Infrared Astronomy. speaks for itself about what the experts Working for Kitt Peak inevitably

Gemini Newsletter #25 - December 2002 9 done about the infrared. Fred Gillett was appointed committee chair.

One of Fred’s great talents was that he always grasped the overview. If it could ever be said that he wore blinders, it was because of his uncompromising focus on doing something right.

Thanks to Fred’s vision, when “The Decade of Discovery in Astronomy and Astrophysics” was published in 1991, Bahcall’s report cited an 8-meter infrared telescope atop Mauna Kea as its No. 1 priority for American astronomy in the upcoming decade. The committee went so far as to label the 90’s the “Decade of the Infrared.”

Fred using the infrared photometer on the 2.1 meter telescope at Kitt Peak in the mid-70’s. The Decadal Survey placed an 8-meter pulled Fred into the administration community takes a deep breath and infrared telescope on the fast-track of the National Optical Astronomy considers its priorities for future research. for development within the American Observatory. Formed in 1982, NOAO This process is called the Decadal astronomical community. There was serves as the umbrella organization for Survey, and is sponsored by the National a good deal of residual resistance to many of the largest observatories funded Academy of Sciences. In 1989, the a major infrared telescope, however, with U.S. tax money. It is one of the Academy appointed John Bahcall, with since the great majority of American institutional arms of the Association of the Institute of Advanced Astronomy astronomers observed in the optical Universities for Research in Astronomy at Princeton, as survey chairman for part of the spectrum. The unique (AURA), which operates Gemini, astronomy and astrophysics. Bahcall funding arrangements by Congress Kitt Peak, the Cerro Tololo Inter- gathered together more than 300 of the also added to the difficulties of getting American Observatory in Chile, the top astronomers in the country to decide the Gemini Project off the ground, Space Telescope Science Institute and the direction astronomy should take in since Congress had mandated that half the National Solar Observatory, with the 1990’s. Twenty-five of these experts the Gemini budget must come from facilities in Arizona and New Mexico. were assigned to consider what should be foreign sources – which meant Gemini

Fred’s reputation as a solid researcher more interested in good data than politics was inexorably pulling him into the realm of Big Science. “Fred kept us honest,” former NOAO director Sidney Wolff told one interviewer. By the time Fred left NASA in 1989 to come home to Tucson, he was recognized by his peers as one of the unquestioned leaders in infrared astronomy. It was Fred’s science and his quiet, behind- the-scenes tenaciousness that would see him through the looming uproar in the United States over the Gemini mirror. Beneath his unassuming façade lay real strength.

The Decadal Survey

Every ten years the U.S. science Fred in front of what is now the Frederick C. Gillett Gemini Telescope on December 26, 1998.

10 Gemini Newsletter #25 - December 2002 must move outward from its exclusively responsible for choosing the Gemini up from his chair and walked over to American interests and become a truly mirror design, had to go through his own the large blackboard that dominates his international project. assessment of how he saw telescopes. office. The board was already crammed to overflowing with supernumerary Resistance to Gemini’s “new paradigm” The mirror controversy was a painful one squiggles and scrawls – the symbolic of both design and international for Gemini, but it could be argued that it effluvia of the interminable discussions cooperation came to a head with a was one of the best things that happened on science and technology that go on controversy that erupted in the early to the project. Because it helped focus day after day in that office. He reached 1990’s over Gemini’s mirror design the entire Gemini team, including Fred, up and wiped off a big, clean space on and manufacture. The traditional way on the new paradigm of “delivered image one corner of the board, and then he of viewing a telescope was that the quality” as the designers’ overriding goal wrote down this formula: heart of any telescope is its mirror. in creating Gemini. Fred embraced this

Gemini visionaries, however, had taken approach wholeheartedly and in fact S/N ∝ (D/θ) x (η1⁄2/B1⁄2) a quantum leap in design priorities and became one of its primary advocates. “This is why,” he said looking around. adopted the view that the heart of a “This is why.” telescope is simply its “delivered image Why Fred? quality.” For a scientist such as Mountain, this When Matt Mountain was asked why the tells it all. It does this so eloquently This view involved much more than just Gemini Observatory Board of Directors, because it so lucidly, so gloriously the mirror. It was also difficult to get at his urging, had unanimously chosen speaks truth in the form of number. the idea across to a great many in the to name the Gemini North telescope All great formulae do this. There is astronomical community, who remained after Fred Gillett, he didn’t immediately no “muddle of humanity” in them, focused on the telescope’s mirror as the answer. He mumbled around for a only ratiocination. In their pristine primary issue in design. Even Fred, moment, obviously not getting to what symbology, they are the poetry who was a member of the Gemini team he really wanted to say, and then stood of science. And for those who are

The Frederick C. Gillett Gemini Telescope with the vents and observing slit open at sunset on Mauna Kea.

Gemini Newsletter #25 - December 2002 11 immersed in their language, they sing asked how he met Fred. “He was as sublimely as a Shakespearean sonnet. always around.” Any real scientist can tell you this. So if it wasn’t for his science or his As for the formula above, translated leadership, why, then, is Fred being into English, it says: “The quality of awarded this singular honor? the data is dependent upon the quality of the telescope.” This formula has The key to that answer lies not in what another very interesting aspect to it. It Fred did, but in who he was. Especially is this: Anything you manipulate within who he was for Gemini. the formula affects everything else. It is a scientific expression of integrity. No matter who you talk to about Fred, no matter what scientist It is customary to apply the word, or instrumentation engineer, or “integrity,” to describe the human astronomer or physicist, or neighbor or condition. Many people mistake friend – and his colleagues were legion “integrity” for moral excellence, for and included some of the best minds honesty, or rectitude and uprightness. in the world – no matter who they are, It is not. This is probity. Integrity they all answer the same. One way or means wholeness. Like love, it the other, often in explanations dense The crowd gathered for the naming ceremony beneath the encompasses these other things. In with formulae and jargon they try to telescope. Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary, describe Fred for you. In a desire to integrity is defined as “the state or sincerely explain their feelings about possibly could make it. That everyone quality of being entire or complete.” Fred, they always work down to one could make it. And he meant it. In the Integrity is wholeness. word. They always come down to end, this is what he was about. It is this integrity. legacy that remains at the heart of the Fred Gillett telescope. That’s why his name is on Integrity was the key to Fred’s life. It the plaque. Fred had always been an excellent is the reason behind the telescope’s scientist. But it is not for his science naming. No matter what else that What Fred bequeathed to Gemini was that the telescope is being named for could be said about Fred – and many a lasting, inner core of integrity. This him. It is not even for his leadership could say a great deal since he had his is not to say, however, there was any – at least in the traditional sense of unassuming, scientific fingers in so conscious intent by anyone – least of all the word. Though Fred chaired many many empirical porridges – no one by Fred himself – to place “integrity” at committees, led projects and was in ever questioned his integrity. Gemini’s core. It was just one of those the very thick of the Gemini design, fortunate, half-intuitive, things in life anyone who knew Fred will quickly tell The Fred Gillett Telescope that sometimes just happen. you his type of leadership was not based on charisma, or haranguing the crowds “The post of honor is a private Fred was not Gemini’s arm, or even and “bringing the team together.” station,” Cato once said. So the voice, but he was certainly Gemini’s telescope will get only one man’s name conscience. In naming the Gemini Fred was in fact so low-key it is upon it. What is to be understood, telescope on Mauna Kea the “Frederick interesting to note that most of his however, is that by choosing this one C. Gillett Gemini Telescope,” this is long-time colleagues, those men and man for this singular honor, all who what is being honored. women who heartily approve of the have played a part are honored. The telescope honor, when asked how they naming of the telescope is public Aloha to Everything first came to know Fred, will pause for a acknowledgement of what Fred fought moment, mentally scratch their heads, for in the rigor of his calculations, In early October of 2000, Fred and and pensively reply they never gave it his meticulousness, his one-pointed, Marian returned to Tucson. They’d much thought. As a matter of fact, the uncompromising insistence on quality talked it out with their kids in great majority have no recollection at as he unhesitatingly urged everyone Indianapolis. Now they were passing all of their first meeting with Fred. on with a kind of uncompromising back through Tucson on their way to focus incessantly repeating the refrain Seattle. People invited them out. The “Damned if I know,” said Gerry that Gemini was going to be the best Sierka’s, their closest friends in Tucson, Neugebauer in a typical reply when possible infrared telescope that he held a very special party for them. Here

12 Gemini Newsletter #25 - December 2002 Fred and Frank planned their hike. Cancer Research Center in Seattle, and settled into an apartment So there they were, two hard-core furnished by the center for families scientists, two old friends, walking undergoing bone marrow transplants. and talking as autumn was coming Everybody staying in the apartments on and the leaves were dying. Edging was in the same boat. It was a place ever so softly towards the ineffable. rife with fear and hope. And thus, it was an intensely caring group of “How do you go about this?” Low people. Marian has good memories remembers Fred asking that fateful of it. It was to be Fred’s last home. autumn morning in the canyon. “Wouldn’t it be easier on everyone “It didn’t really matter, though,” said if I just got on my bicycle and rode Marian. “No place was ever home for away?” Fred except Tucson.”

“I don’t doubt something like that The bone marrow transplant towards happened,” says Marian. the end of November went well. They were lucky. They’d found a Either there in the canyon, or perhaps good match. Fred’s older brother Jim even later as he and Marian made donated the life-giving marrow. Fred their slow way up to Seattle, Fred felt well enough by Christmas to made his final decision to go through spend the day at the home of family with the bone marrow transplant. friends. January was looking even Ultimately his decision had nothing better, until the end of the month to do with logic, or even fear. “I when Fred started to have back pain. Fred riding in the tenth annual “El Tour De Tucson” on November 21, 1992. really do honestly believe that if Fred The route travels around Tucson and totals about 100 miles in one day. had been on his own, he wouldn’t By the end of February he was have gone through with it,” said of the Gillett family. (Altogether, the diagnosed with spinal compression Marian. “He knew perfectly well what Gillett’s hosted 95 young people through fractures and by mid-March the graft his chances were. Without us, I think he the years in the “Up With People” cells were beginning to cause major would have just let nature take its course. program.) They spent a couple of days problems with his kidneys, liver and He had to try for his family.” at the Caroffs’ home in Sunnyvale, other organs. He was battling painful still visiting, winding up business, still infections, he was full of IVs, taking After Tucson, they went on to San preparing. The friends went for one last, all kinds of medicines, in and out of Diego, where they visited with friends long bicycle ride together. the hospital, full of pain killers, and in and old colleagues. They stopped by severe pain from a series of compression Neugebauer’s office. They spent a week And then on October 22, 2000, they fractures in his spine (brought on by just before Halloween at the home of their checked in at the Fred Hutchinson steroid treatments). His organs were hanai (unofficially adopted) failing and his bones were daughter, Danuta Gessner collapsing. and her husband Rick. “Fred had a wonderful time “Those were some bad times. playing with our two-year- There were so many specialists, old Megan,” Danuta said. so many tests. There was just “We all went on a hayride nothing else we could do,” together.” Danuta had said Marian. “We couldn’t come into their lives back deal with it any more.” On in 1980 when Fred and March 19, 2001, Fred checked Marian had hosted her as a back into the hospital for what young woman performing would be his last time. in the international singing group, “Up With People.” “They haven’t got a model, “Our paths were just meant Matt,” a very sick man fretted to cross, I guess,” Danuta Fred with his brother Jim (left) who donated bone marrow for the transplant. to Mountain when he called said. Danuta became part to check on him a few days

Gemini Newsletter #25 - December 2002 13 before his death. “They’re just trying The family’s good friends and longtime to have had a consistent order and plan, things.” neighbors Ray and Jeanne Sierka arrived as though composed by a novelist. Events with their daughter at about 3 p.m. from that when they occurred had seemed “Through all of this,” said his son Mike, Tucson. With family and friends at his accidental and of little moment turn “Dad never gave up.” “He realized that bedside Fred died peacefully at 4:45 p.m. out to have been indispensable factors in with all of his systems failing however, on Sunday, April 22, 2001. the composition of a consistent plot. So that there was a bigger issue. I’d like who composed the plot? Schopenhauer to think that because of the way Dad suggests that just as dreams are thought everything through, that he was composed by an aspect of yourself of a step ahead of the rest of us.” which consciousness is unaware, so, too, your whole life is composed by the will It was about that time that his old within you. And just as people whom NASA friend Larry Caroff took off work you will have met apparently by mere and drove up to Seattle to see him. It chance became leading agents in the would be the last time the two biking structuring of your life, so, too, will you buddies talked. And like so many in such have served unknowingly as an agent, situations heavy with implications of giving meaning to the lives of others.” mortality, they talked only of mundane things, known equations. But they were It is all interwoven, intermeshed. both aware finality was hanging in the air Cold Minnesota winters, emissivity, between them, in the sterile, antiseptic bicycles, stark hospital corridors, stars, air of an impersonal hospital room. paper notebooks dense with penciled calculations, the snow atop Mauna Kea, On April 20, the couple’s children Fred with grandson Eric Gillett in August, 2000. science, family, love, laughter. arrived in Seattle to spend the weekend The great mythologist Joseph Campbell with Fred and Marian. Early Sunday used to tell a famous story about “All nature is but art, unknown to thee; afternoon daughter Nancy with Schopenhauer, which he felt shed light All chance, direction, which thou canst not see; her husband Ed and three year-old on how a man’s life is lived. All discord, harmony, not understood; Alexandra returned to Indianapolis All partial evil, universal good; and Danuta and husband Rick to San “Schopenhauer,” he said, “points out And, spite of pride, in erring reason’s spite, Diego. Son Michael with his wife Susan that when you reach an advanced age and One truth is clear, Whatever is, is right.” and seven year-old Elizabeth remained. look back over your lifetime, it can seem - Alexander Pope

At the banquet following the naming ceremony, Fred’s son Michael presented Gemini a plaque and memento shadow box on behalf of the family which they called, “The Essence of Fred.” The box, Michael said, was symbolic of personal memories. Among other things it contained a picture of Fred and his grandson Eric; a Zane Grey novel, “Wild Horse Mesa”; a toy bicycle; a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup; a perfect “Hearts” card game hand; and a Willie Nelson CD entitled “Always on my Mind.” These were all items that were special to Fred beyond his professional interests and accomplishments that were included in this newsletter tribute.

The shadow box is hung at the telescope and has a plaque adjacent to it that reads: “The Essence of Fred” Given in honor of Fred Gillett by his family. He was a lover of plaid shirts and fishing hats, Zane Grey novels and Willie Nelson songs; Reese’s peanut butter cups and Hearts; cycling and Arizona basketball. Above all else, he was a good and gentle man who so loved his grandchildren... Elizabeth, Eric, Alexandra, Megan, Taylor, Serena, Madison and Frederick. November 13, 2002.”

14 Gemini Newsletter #25 - December 2002 RECENT SCIENTIFIC HIGHLIGHTS Jean-René Roy & Phil Puxley

emester 2002A was the first communities starting in 2003A. place at ~0.5 and ~2 Gyr ago. By semester with extensive science combining the Gemini Hokupa‘a data Stime with two facility instruments The 2002A NIRI runs were unfortunately with WFPC2 images from the Hubble on Gemini North. It was also the last severely affected by the poor weather Space Telescope, Stephens & Frogel semester with a visitor instrument on Mauna Kea this winter. The were able to establish that the central (Hokupa‘a/QUIRC) on the Gemini weather, along with further mechanical region of M33 is composed of a mix of North telescope. problems, required NIRI to be taken young, intermediate and old-aged stellar off the telescope. Still, a number of populations. At Gemini South, we continued to NIRI programs were executed, and the depend on two visitor instruments corresponding data was distributed to Courbin (Universite de Liege) and his (PHOENIX, FLAMINGOS-1). New the Principle Investigators (PIs) this collaborators used optical and near-IR slips in the delivery of our facility summer. HST and Hokupa‘a images to explore instruments (T-ReCS, GMOS-S and the gravitationally lensed radio source bHROS) have pushed science with Hokupa‘a/QUIRC PKS 1830-211. They found the lensing facility instruments at Gemini South potential to be composed of a face-on into semester 2003B. CIRPASS, the Stephens (Universidad Católica de spiral galaxy (apparently the first such IFU near IR spectrograph from the Chile) & Frogel (NASA Headquarters) case of lensing discovered) with a poorly University of Cambridge, had a very employed Hokupa‘a/QUIRC to defined center and probably at z = 0.89, successful demonstration science run on investigate the stellar populations in the another galaxy with also a poorly defined Gemini South in early August, 2002. central 22” of the nearby Sc spiral M33 center and unknown redshift, and a (Figure 1). From the central surface third galaxy, possibly at z = 0.19. These GMOS-N continued to be used very brightness profile, they modeled the are the first images of a gravitational lens successfully on Gemini North in 2002A, central distribution of the stars with a taken with AO on an 8 to 10-meter and science programs have now been mix of core-spheroid-disk components. class telescope. The Hokupa‘a images executed in the queue mode on a regular The authors derived a mean heavy were of crucial importance to measure basis since November, 2001. element content very close to that of the positions of the quasar images with our Sun which is 8.5 kpc away from our a very high precision using a special de- Early in 2002, we took the decision own Galactic Center. The bolometric convolution method. to implement the technique of “nod luminosities and densities of stars on and shuffle” (N&S) that allows a the asymptotic branch indicate that Roe (University of California, Berkeley) more accurate subtraction of the sky two main bursts of star formation took and collaborators have investigated the background by alternately shifting charges from one portion of the CCD detectors to another in synchronism with nods of the telescope on the sky by a few, to several arcseconds. In April and May, 2002, we completed the engineering and commissioning work of this mode, and system verification was done over the equivalent of five nights in August and September. The commissioning of N&S on GMOS involved a remarkable collaborative effort between several astronomers and engineers from the Gemini communities working closely with Gemini staff members. This new Figure 1: Relative size and location of Hokupa‘a image. The left image is a 30’ red DSS of the center of M33, and mode is now being offered to the general on the right is the ~22’’ H-Band Gemini image taken with Hokupa‘a. The faintest stars visible in the infrared are H ~ 20.5.

Gemini Newsletter #25 - December 2002 15 Titan clouds using imaging with the verge of star formation will adaptive optics at Gemini North contain extremely cold and dense and Keck II. The seasonal North- condensations. Redman (Herzberg South asymmetry of stratospheric Institute of Astrophysics) and his haze particles is obvious. They collaborators have made JCMT/ report a thin haze and discrete SCUBA mm and Gemini/OSCIR clouds in Titan’s south polar observations of the dense clumps troposphere. The discrete clouds of dust and gas and of young stellar vary on time scales of a few hours. objects (YSOs) associated with the A seasonal mechanism may explain bright, compact sub-mm source the formation of this spring polar G79.3+03 P1 in the nearby MSX tropospheric haze. Assuming that infrared-dark cloud G79.3+03. the clouds are located in or above The Gemini observations revealed the haze, the authors suggest that the presence of three young stellar convection within this haze layer objects within the cloud, the triggers methane condensation. brightest one being likely a Herbig Figure 2: Flicker & Rigaut (2002) derived the effective isoplanatic angle Subsequent latent heat release upon adaptive compensation with one altitude-conjugated DM, as a function Ae/Be star. This concentration leads to vigorous convection and of the conjugate range hc, for two different turbulence models (solid and dashed of stars and YSOs indicates that formation of transient clouds. Roe lines) and two elevation angles as shown by the arrows. Solid lines represent a the IRDC is actively forming et al. emphasize that their results model tuned to have h = 3.5 km, and dashed lines show for comparison, a low-mass stars. The sub-mm five-layer model with h = 5.8 km; h is the effective turbulent height. have significant implications source G79.3+0.3 P1 itself does for planning the Cassini mission was either not present or not detected not contain infrared sources and may flyby of Titan. The spacecraft, due to in the SCIDAR measurements that represent an even earlier stage of star arrive in 2004, will be able to look for formed the basis of Racine & Ellerbroek formation. these southern polar clouds with its analysis. The significantly lower h found ISS instrument. This should give the by Flicker & Rigaut could be due to The identity of a strong emission feature opportunity to see the end of southern either the presence of such a ground at 21 microns in a number of proto- cloud activity on Titan (linked with layer or the absence of higher altitude planetary nebulae (PPNs) is one of the Titan’s long winter conditions). If the turbulence. However, it is emphasized most interesting unresolved mysteries in mission remains active for more then that the statistical sample of the Galactic astrochemistry. Sun Kwok (University of four to five years, the start of spring Center data study is small, and the Calgary) and collaborators used OSCIR cloud activity at Titan’s North Pole timespan of only a month is short. on Gemini North to investigate the dust could be followed. properties of two post-asymptotic giant OSCIR branch 21 micron sources. They imaged Flicker (Lund Observatory) & Rigaut the sources through five filters covering (Gemini Observatory) analyzed the Recently published results from OSCIR the 11.3 to 21-micron emission features Hokupa‘a Demo Science Galactic have mainly dealt with regions of star as well as the adjacent dust continuum. Center data set to study the effects formation – and the late stage of stellar The source IRAS 07134+1005 (Figure of angular anisoplanatism, and to evolution in our own Galaxy. 3) shows a clearly resolved shell characterize Mauna Kea night time structure, but no significant variation in turbulence (Figure 2). From the current Here, we give a few examples: morphology is seen between the different Hokupa‘a Galactic Center data set, filters. There are two blobs possibly the authors find for the turbulence A large population of cold dust clouds representing the edges of a torus. The above Mauna Kea, a median value h = has been observed in the Galactic Plane uniform morphology between the 3.5 km with 10th and 90th percentiles with the MSX satellite. These clouds emission features and the continuum being 2.2 and 5.6 km. They refer to the appear as dark patches of absorbing suggest that both the carriers of the study by Racine & Ellerbroek (1995) material against a background of mid- 11.3 micron aromatic band and the who reported Mauna Kea night time IR emission bands and emission from 21 micron feature originates from the turbulence is preferentially composed warm, small dust grains. The so-called material ejected during the asymptotic of an underlying background turbulence infrared-dark clouds (IRDCs) have one giant branch phase of evolution. The upon which are often superposed only to several magnitudes of extinction at 8 carriers of the substances responsible one or two thin dominant layers. The microns. The IRDCs possess hundreds for the spectral features share the same median effective turbulence altitude of magnitudes of visual extinction spatial location and ejection history as would be 6.5 km. Flicker & Rigaut and contain large column densities the general dust component. There is no suggest that a significant ground layer of cold dust. Molecular clouds on evidence that the 21 micron emission is

16 Gemini Newsletter #25 - December 2002 created by a sudden ejection at the end of PHOENIX on Gemini South, Smith the stellar content and distance of the AGB phase. (University of Texas, El Paso) and a large the dwarf irregular galaxy Kar 50, an international team have determined the unusually faint dwarf galaxy belonging abundances of the isotopes C-12, C-13, to the M81 Group at ~3.5 Mpc. Dwarf N-14 and O-16 along with abundances galaxies allow us to understand how of Fe, Na, Sc and Ti in 12 red giants such systems may have been affected by spanning masses between 1-4 Msun hierarchal interactions. The presence of – a range of mass lower than in previous a significant population of bright blue works of 8-10 Msun. The iron abundance stars, coupled with the blue integrated sampled ranges from [Fe/H] = -1.1 to colors of the galaxy and the flat color –0.3. Both [Na/Fe] and [Ti/Fe] are profiles indicate that the stellar content found to be consistently lower than their of the galaxy is well mixed and that Kar Galactic values by ~0.1 to –0.5 over the 50 has experienced a recent galaxy-wide metallicity range sampled in the LMC. star-forming episode. Kar 50 has a These characteristic underabundances remarkably flat central surface brightness of Na and Ti seem to also occur in a profile over a linear scale of ~ 1 kpc, number of dwarf spheroidal galaxies. even at wavelengths approaching 1 The LMC red giants in this sample all micron, although there is no evidence show evidence of the mixing of CN- of a bar. The distance estimated from cycle material to their surfaces via the the brightest blue stars indicates that Figure 3: OSCIR image of proto-planetary nebula IRAS 07134+1005 at 10.3 microns showing a clear first dredge-up, with N-14 enhanced Kar 50 is behind the M81 group. In shell structure with two blobs possibly representing by +0.4 to +0.8 dex over its estimated the absence of subsequent star-forming the edges of a torus. No observable difference in the initial values, and C-12 decreased by episodes, Kar 50 will evolve into a very morphology of the emission can be seen in the emission regions of the 11.3 and 21 micron features in –0.3 to –0.5 dex. The C-12/C-13 low surface brightness system to become comparison with the dust continuum. (See Figure 1 in ratios in the LMC red giants are found a system similar to the low surface the paper by Kwok et al. to view the images at 10.3, to decrease with decreasing giant star brightness galaxies of the Virgo Cluster, 11.7, 12.5 18.2 and 20.8 microns.) mass in a manner similar to that found some of which also have flat central light PHOENIX for Galactic red giants. However, the profiles. LMC trend appears to be shifted to The Large Magellanic Cloud is a prime lower C-12/C-13 ratios for a given red- Ledlow (Gemini Observatory) target in which to probe chemical giant mass. This shift may be due to the and his team have identified the evolution in stellar populations. The increased mixing associated with lower- optical counterparts to two sub-mm trend of [O/Fe] versus [Fe/H] can be metallicity giants. The [O/Fe] values in sources, SMMJ09429+4659 and a crucial relation in establishing star the LMC are smaller by about 0.2 dex SMMJ09431+4700 (Figure 4), seen formation histories in stellar population. than those in the Milky Way. This can through the core of the z = 0.41 For example, oxygen is made be explained by both a lower supernovae cluster Abell 851. These objects belong preferentially in the most massive stars, rate (caused by a lower star formation to a population of distant dusty, while iron comes from both massive, rate) and a lower ratio of supernovae active galaxies that may represent the core-collapse supernovae (SN II) and type II to supernovae type Ia. formation phase of massive spheroidal the binary Type Ia supernovae. The run galaxies. One of the SCUBA galaxies of the O/Fe ratio with Fe/H in a stellar GMOS observed with GMOS has the highest system is a measure of the history of spectroscopic redshift measured so far, SN II to SN Ia rates, and hence, of the Davidge (Herzberg Institute of at z=3.35 – breaking the z = 3 barrier formation history of the LMC. Using the Astrophysics) used GMOS system for this population for the first time. Its 13 high-resolution infrared spectrometer verification g’r’i’z’ imaging to investigate luminosity of LFIR ~ 1.5 x 10 Lsun makes

Figure 4: 12”x12” image zooms in on the bands B, R and K on the fields of the sub-mm SCUBA sources SMM J09429+4659 and SMM J09431+4700. The large circles show the nominal 6” error circle diameter for the SCUBA source, while the smaller circles show the positions of the radio counterparts. H6, H7 and H8 are sources with optical counterparts. Note the strong contrast between the optical/near-infrared colors of H6 and the Extremely Red Object, H8.

Gemini Newsletter #25 - December 2002 17 this galaxy a Hyperluminous Infrared system. If purely powered by massive star formation, its immense luminosity would require a star formation rate of 4 ~10 Msun/yr! However, the spectrum shows the signatures of a weak AGN. Actually, both systems host an AGN. The AGN activity may have a profound impact on the evolution of these galaxies: Figure 5: GMOS spectrum of SCUBA galaxy SMM J09431+ 4700 (object H6 in Figure 4). This z = 3.35 galaxy The AGN in SMMJ02399-0136 appears shows spectral features of a narrow line Seyfert 1 galaxy. There are hints of blue-shifted absorption troughs on the to be driving a substantial wind which stronger lines. The right panel shows the line of CIV and NV (AGN features) plotted on the same restframe velocity may in time sweep the central regions of scale as the Ly-alpha line. the galaxy clear of gas and dust. ALTAIR REPORT Brent Ellerbroek

he Gemini North Altitude Conjugate Adaptive Optics TSystem (Altair) arrived in Hilo October 11, 2002, and was trucked to the Mauna Kea summit on October 14. Three weeks of intensive and entirely successful integration and test work followed, culminating with the installation of Altair on the Gemini Telescope November 5, 2002.

The Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics/ Gemini integration team has reassembled the Altair opto-mechanical system, verified optical alignment and performance, checked the operation of all actuators, detectors and electronics, established software interfaces to the Dean Samao, Gemini Mechanical Technician, John White, Gemini Electronics Technician and Kei Szeto of the HIA Gemini telescope control systems, in Victoria, Canada make a visual inspection of Altair after it was mounted on the telescope. and successfully exercised the real- closed-loop AO tests with NIRI and the turbulence. These measurements will time control loop on the artificial star telescope control system. be extremely valuable in characterizing reference source and “turbulator.” Altair’s actual performance against The first commissioning run from theoretical predictions and models. All components and subsystems perform November 19 through November 28 as well or better than in Victoria, with was to verify the basic functionality of the the exception of increased detector read Altair AO system on the sky, characterize noise in the wavefront sensor CCD performance, and to begin exercising the which will be investigated now that software and procedures that will enable Altair is mounted on the ISS. Altair to be used simply and efficiently in support of science observations. The first Altair commissioning run with NIRI was scheduled to begin on The commissioning run was also to November 19. Work remaining before be supported by the Multi-Aperture that date included verifying the interface Scintillation Sensor (MASS), a new sensor Glen Herriot, (left) Altair Program Manager, and to the Gemini interlock system, flexure developed by CTIO for monitoring the Andre Anthony with the HIA in Victoria, Canada, testing, and integrated software and vertical distribution of atmospheric inspect the optics on Altair.

18 Gemini Newsletter #25 - December 2002 GALACTIC CENTER WORKSHOP Ed Kennedy

ore than 100 scientists from was the fact that scientists now have Dr. Geoffrey Bower, radio astronomer around the world attended evidence which comes very close to at the University of California, in his Ma Galactic Center Workshop being characterized as a “smoking gun” presentation. hosted by Gemini Observatory during that the radio source known as Sgr A* is the week of November 3-8 in Hawai‘i. indeed a black hole at the center of our One other significant conference Galaxy. outcome was the presentation of some of Called “The Central 300 Parsecs,” the the initial Chandra X-ray data from the conference was sponsored by several Possibly the most compelling galactic center which are now beginning observatories on Mauna Kea to stimulate observational data, presented by to make their way into the scientific discussions on the galactic core. The independent research teams from the journals. conference was held at the Keauhou University of California and the Max Beach Resort in Kailua-Kona, on the Planck Institute in Germany, were the As an entertaining highlight on the next- west side of the Big Island. to-last day of the conference, Dr. Miller Goss with the of National More than 50 talks were Radio Astronomy Laboratory, and given during the six-day a pioneer researcher of the galactic conference and almost 50 core, gave an informative and posters were presented. All amusing history of the discovery of them concerned research of Sgr A* and how it acquired its into the diverse objects and name. phenomena found within the central 1,000 light Gemini also hosted several public years of the Milky Way. and private school teachers at the conference as part of the Dr. Tom Geballe, Gemini Attendees of the Galactic Center Workshop pose for a group picture. Observatory’s Outreach Program. Senior Astronomer, served observations of stars whizzing extremely The conference paid for all their as chairperson of the conference. He was close around Sgr A* at much higher expenses (including the cost of substitute assisted by a local organizing committee speeds than any other stars in our Galaxy. teachers) and provided staff astronomers of approximately 10 Gemini staff and One example presented was the young to assist them while attending. members of other observatories. An OB star S16, which appears to be moving international 14-member Scientific at approximately 9,000 kilometers per Conference attendees were also treated Organizing Committee formulated the second, or 3 percent the speed of light. to a shoreline cruise and an opportunity program. (As a comparison, the Earth orbits to snorkel and view the coral and marine around the Sun at approximately 30 life beneath Kealekekua Bay. An outdoor “The study of the Galactic Center is kilometers per second.) Hawaiian banquet was held under the unique because it involves understanding stars on November 7. a great many diverse phenomena. It Another interesting topic which emerged also combines many observational and is that Sgr A* “seems to be rather isolated Dr. Geballe termed the conference a theoretical sub-fields of astronomy,” said and starved,” according to Dr. Heino great success: “Here in Hawai‘i, experts Dr. Geballe. Falcke of the Max Planck Institute interested in the galactic core in many for Radio Astronomy. Dr. Falcke areas were able to share their knowledge According to Dr. Eric Becklin, Professor presented the introductory lecture for with each other. I think everyone learned of Physics and Astronomy at UCLA, the conference. a great deal – in addition to having a and the scientist who summarized the great time.” information at the conclusion of the “Rather than being a powerful monster conference, probably the most important in the Galactic Center, this black hole information to come out of the meeting is more like the Cowardly Lion,” said

Gemini Newsletter #25 - December 2002 19 THE DUKE OF YORK VISITS GEMINI SOUTH Ma. Antonieta Garcia

n 1999, His Royal Highness the After 30 minutes of driving up to the site At the end of the Duke of York’s visit, Duke of York, participated in the on Cerro Pachón, His Royal Highness the Cerro Pachón workers presented Idedication of the Gemini North the Duke of York was greeted upon a demonstration of the telescope’s Telescope in Hawai‘i. Now – three years entering Gemini South by the Mayor capabilities during which the telescope’s later – the staff of Gemini South had the of Vicuña, the Warden of the United movements, music and the flags of each opportunity to greet him in the middle Kingdom in the region, other dignitaries partner country were “choreographed.” of the Andes. and 12 children chosen from local schools who sponsor Shortly before the Duke of York’s astronomy clubs. departure, Gemini South Associate Director Dr. Phil Puxley presented him There was time with a sphere made of the same specially for a little theory, cast glass which was used for the 8-meter e x p l a n a t i o n s , Gemini mirror. questions and some humor. During the the Duke of York’s 50-minute visit to the telescope, he managed to meet many staff members of Gemini South and learn about Dr. Malcolm G. Smith, Director of Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (foreground); and the state-of-the- Gemini South Associate Director Dr. Phil Puxley greet His Royal Highness the Duke of York at art technology of Gemini South. Gemini Public Information Outreach Assistant Antonieta Garcia and David Gemini South. At Orellana, of RedLaser/CTIO looks on with the StarLab portable planetarium in the background. the same time, he Expectations were high, and so was the spoke with the Gemini North personnel security, since the Duke of York’s visit via Gemini’s Internet video connection was classified as a private visit by the as they worked on Mauna Kea. He British Embassy. No media were allowed. also managed to ask a few questions of Only Gemini South staff members were Gemini North Associate Director Dr. present for his visit November 7, 2002. Jean-René Roy.

Dr. Phil Puxley, Associate Director for Gemini A lot of preparation went into the Gemini South personnel also got the South (left), stands beneath the telescope with His anticipated visit by Gemini personnel opportunity to demonstrate their Royal Highness the Duke of York. before the day arrived. And then there StarLab portable planetarium, which he was. His helicopter landed at 10: had been set up near the telescope 30 a.m. next to the CTIO facilities. instrument lab. The Duke of York asked Greeting the Duke of York and the about this popular project, which had British Ambassador to Chile, Mr. been made available by Gemini during Greg Faulkner, were Gemini South a celebration in 1999 of the Sister Associate Director Dr. Phil Puxley and City relationship between Hilo and La Dr. Malcolm Smith, Director of Cerro Serena. He expressed interest in seeing a Tololo Inter-American Observatory similar project established in the United (CTIO). Kingdom for the country’s students.

20 Gemini Newsletter #25 - December 2002 SAFETY FIRST AT GEMINI Melissa F. Welborn

emini Observatory continues to in the discovery of some areas where we safety precautions. dedicate resources to improve can improve safety. An audit is currently Gsafety performance. This under way at the telescope on Mauna Upcoming training at Gemini South is because our goal is to ensure that Kea. Steps have been immediately will include instruction on electrical risks every employee at every site is safe and undertaken to correct any problems and First Responder training, along with injury-free. Employees are trained and revealed by the audits. AED (Automatic External Defibrillator) equipped to perform their jobs in a safe training. First Responder training is an manner, which puts safety training at the In fact, the safety program is so active essential part of our integrated safety top of our priorities. that the list of accomplishments is program because of the remoteness extensive. Some examples of these of our sites. We recently purchased a Consistent with our commitment new efforts include the inspection of Spanish language AED device for Chile to safety every day in every way, we outside lighting and building emergency which will be in use shortly. recently held fire safety and prevention lighting, compliance with newly enacted classes at Gemini North. The Hilo county regulations for signage for our We have also undertaken the task of Fire Department arrived with their big disabled parking, retro-wiring of exit comparing the availability of the medical truck and several firemen swung off the signs, striping the parking lot, inspection and other emergency resources of our two truck, ready to talk fire safety and give of our fire suppression system (FM-200 sites in the event of a medical emergency or natural disaster. This examination of the relative accessibility of services and resources at or near our two sites is still in progress.

All of this is possible because of the top-down support we receive from management – from the President of AURA to our own Observatory Director. “It is the desire and intention of Gemini Observatory to provide a safe and healthful working environment to all of our employees,” said Observatory

Gemini Purchasing Agent Alice Dakujaku practices with a fire extinguisher as Peti Singletary, Gemini Safety Officer, looks on. Director Matt Mountain in his Reaffirmation of Safety Policy. hands-on opportunities to operate a fire system) and fire extinguisher inspections Building trust – demonstrating extinguisher. at our three Hawai‘i sites. In Chile, our commitment to employee boom lift instructions in Spanish were safety, mitigating safety problems, “The state of safety is improving day by posted and radios have been replaced. continuously improving safety day,” says Peti Singletary, Gemini’s new Safety Committees at both sites are through implementation of employee Safety Officer. “In the last four months, meeting to discuss current issues and suggestions, creating an attitude of training has been conducted for our housekeeping tasks are on-going. willing compliance, taking seriously employees at Gemini North in personal our obligation to ensure employees are fall protection, ladder safety, fire “I plan to travel to Chile in January properly trained and equipped to do prevention and the use of snow chains. to collaborate with Pablo Diaz, who is their jobs safely, pro-actively preparing Inspections and audits also help us gauge our Gemini South Safety Officer,” says for emergencies, providing a safe and how well our program is working.” Peti. Recently in Chile, Pablo conducted healthful environment and staying tool-box safety talks on lock out/tag out, abreast of safety regulations. Peti recently completed an audit of the safety harness use, hazardous materials Hilo base facility that was instrumental handling, safe driving habits and general

Gemini Newsletter #25 - December 2002 21 NEW GEMINI INTERNET LINK Ed Kennedy

emini Observatory observed Division of NSF spoke on behalf of his December 2001 Gemini Newsletter; or another milestone in August, work coordinating the various scientific go to http://www.gemini.edu/project/ G2002, when officials from and governmental agencies that made announcements/press/2002-11.html four locations participated in a “virtual this a reality. inauguration” of the new high-speed StarTeachers Internet link between Hawai‘i and Others who participated from Hilo were Exchange Program Chile. Gemini’s Director Dr. Matt Mountain, In conjunction with Gemini’s new high- Associate Director Dr. Jean-René Roy, speed Internet link, Gemini’s Outreach Of- The event electronically connected many Big Island Mayor Harry Kim and State fice has created an innovative new link of its key individuals who made the Internet Representative Helene Hale. Heather own between educators in Hawai‘i and Chile link possible. Officials participated Boyles of Internet2 also participated called the StarTeachers Exchange Program. from Hilo, Hawai‘i, Washington D.C., from Washington D.C. Miami, and La Serena, Chile. This novel exchange program will allow 6 teachers (3 each from Hilo and La Serena) Dr. Malcolm G. Smith, Director of Cerro to integrate Gemini’s Internet videoconfer- Hosting the event in Hilo was Gemini Tololo Inter-American Observatory encing capabilities into a remote teaching Director of Operations Dr. James (CTIO), hosted the Chilean portion of experience. Each teacher will visit the other Kennedy. Kennedy led the Gemini the event. Also speaking from Chile Gemini host community for a period of 2 initiative in creating the Internet was La Serena Mayor Adriana Peñafiel weeks and work closely with a partner teacher and their classes to share ideas on teaching, pathway. The high-speed link runs and Dr. Smith’s wife, Mrs. Anamaría culture and educational strategies. Most im- from Hilo to Miami via Internet2’s Maraboli-Smith. portantly, each teacher will be asked to pre- Abilene backbone network, through an pare a lesson for their students back home that international Internet exchange called Mayor Kim and Mayor Peñafiel, as will be presented using the Gemini Internet AMPATH to South America. well as Mrs. Maraboli-Smith and videoconferencing system. The results from this experience will be carefully documented Representative Hale participated on and evaluated so that “lessons learned” from Speaking for AMPATH (short for behalf of the Sister City connection these experiences can be used in future In- AmericasPATH) during the four-way between Hilo and La Serena. Mrs. ternet-based educational programming from hookup was Julio Ibarra, Director of Maraboli-Smith and Representative Gemini. AMPATH and Advanced Research Hale were instrumental in establishing the Sister City relationship As this newsletter went to press, almost 30 teachers have applied for the program and in 1994. the selection process had begun. In late January, 2003, the 6 selected teachers will Also announced was be announced and introduced at a press/ Gemini’s new StarTeachers videoconference from the Gemini facilities Exchange Program which in Hilo and La Serena. The 3 Hilo teach- ers will visit La Serena in March and the La has been made possible by Serena teachers will visit Hilo in October, the new Internet link (see 2003. accompanying story). This program was initiated as part of the Dr. Wayne van Citters, Sister City relationship between Hilo and Inaugurating the completed Internet connection at Hilo Base Facility Director of the NSF’s La Serena that began in 1994. In 1999, (from left): Associate Director Dr. Jean-René Roy, Director of Operations Gemini presented both communities with Dr. James Kennedy, Big Island Mayor Harry Kim, Observatory Director Astronomy Division, said portable StarLab planetariums that have Dr. Matt Mountain and Big Island Representative Helene Hale. of the new Internet link, become an integral and very successful part of Networking at Florida International ”Gemini has laid the foundation for a the Gemini and CTIO outreach efforts. University. The NSF provided new way of doing astronomy that will substantial funding for the AMPATH allow us to see farther, fainter and sharper gateway. than ever before. This exemplifies what can be achieved through international Dr. Thomas Greene, Senior Program scientific cooperation.” Director with the Advanced Networking Infrastructure and Research (ANIR) For more information see Page 17 of the StarTeacher logo

22 Gemini Newsletter #25 - December 2002 PROJECT OFFICE REPORTS UNITED STATES Taft Armandroff

he U.S. community responded The GNIRS project achieved a major 5 micron dual-beam coronagraphic enthusiastically to the Gemini milestone in late September and early imaging capability on the Gemini TCall for Proposals for semester October when GNIRS was integrated, South telescope. Mauna Kea InfraRed 2003A. Overall, U.S. scientists vacuum tested, and then cooled to (MKIR) in Hilo is building NICI, under submitted 131 proposals for 2003A, cryogenic temperature. GNIRS came the leadership of Doug Toomey. The which represents a 27% increase over the very close to its desired operating NICI Critical Design Review (CDR) number submitted in 2002B. temperature. While the instrument took place in Hilo on June 24-25, 2002. was cold, the GNIRS Team verified NICI passed its CDR; and USGP, On Gemini North, 148.6 nights were the cryogenic performance of the Gemini, and MKIR received valuable requested in 86 proposals. GMOS GNIRS mechanisms, the on-instrument guidance from the CDR Committee was the most popular instrument on wavefront sensor and temperature Report. MKIR has been authorized to Gemini North (84.3 nights requested control. proceed with the fabrication, testing, in 47 proposals), followed by NIRI and delivery of the instrument. (50.4 nights requested in 29 proposals), As expected, some areas need work. followed by Michelle (13.9 nights However, the tests have revealed Currently, a great deal of procurement requested in 12 proposals). On Gemini excellent performance in most cases. The activity is under way for the NICI South, 45 proposals requested 83.6 second GNIRS cooldown will feature an optical, mechanical and electronic nights. PHOENIX was the most engineering-grade detector and imaging components. NICI delivery to Gemini popular instrument on Gemini South tests using it. After that, two-axis flexure South is planned for December, 2004. (57.6 nights requested in 31 proposals), tests will be performed on GNIRS followed by CIRPASS (18.1 nights using the NOAO Flexure Test Facility. GSAOI requested in 9 proposals), followed by AcqCam (8.0 nights requested in 6 The Gemini South Adaptive Optics proposals). The oversubscription factors Imager (GSAOI) will be used with are 4.0 for Gemini North and 3.4 for the Multi-Conjugate Adaptive Optics Gemini South. (MCAO) system being built for the Gemini South telescope. The imager NOAO’s high-resolution infrared will cover wavelengths between 1 and spectrograph PHOENIX has been the 2.5 microns, and will be based on a most used instrument on Gemini South 4K x 4K HgCdTe detector mosaic. during semesters 2002A and 2002B. GSAOI’s imaging area will cover the The U.S. Gemini Project (USGP) staff well-corrected field of view of the was present during all of the PHOENIX MCAO system. NOAO was selected as queue observing nights to provide GNIRS Team members Paul Schmitt and Ron George “button up” one of two teams to develop a conceptual instrument support. the instrument in preparation for the cold tests in late September. design for GSAOI. Bob Blum leads the NOAO GSAOI Team scientifically GNIRS Overall, 94% of the work for GNIRS with assistance from Jay Elias and Dick delivery has been completed. Finally, Joyce. Neil Gaughan serves as the Project The Gemini Near-InfraRed Spectrograph the GNIRS Team won the Grand Prize Manager. Technical personnel from (GNIRS) is an infrared spectrograph for for Modeling in the 2002 SolidWorks Tucson and La Serena are participating the Gemini South telescope that will SolidGallery Design Contest (see in the GSAOI effort. operate from 1 to 5 microns and will offer www.solidworks.com/swdocs/gallery/ two plate scales, a range of dispersions, contest2002/winners.cfm). The NOAO GSAOI design study and both long-slit and integral-field results were documented as a report for modes. The project is being carried NICI Gemini. The NOAO Team presented out at NOAO in Tucson under the their results to the Gemini Design leadership of Project Scientist Jay Elias The Near Infrared Coronagraphic Review Committee on August 21, 2002, and Project Manager Neil Gaughan. Imager (NICI) will provide a 1 to in Hilo. After some significant changes

Gemini Newsletter #25 - December 2002 23 in requirements from Gemini, NOAO readout speed and other detector submitted a revised GSAOI proposal, performance tests and enhancements as did the other design team from the to insure that T-ReCS meets its Australian National University. performance specifications. This will allow USGP, Gemini and Florida to T-ReCS carry out the Pre-Ship Acceptance Test of T-ReCS. T-ReCS, the Thermal Region Camera and Spectrograph, is a mid-infrared Finally, planning is under way in the U.S. imager and spectrograph for the Gemini for participation in the Gemini Next- South telescope under construction Rendering of the complete NICI instrument, as it will be Generation Instrumentation Meeting, to mounted on Gemini South. The boxes at either end of the by Charlie Telesco and his team at assembly are the cooled electronics cabinets. The squat box in the be held in June, 2003, in Aspen, Colo. the University of Florida. The team center is the NICI dewar, and the tall rectilinear shape to the left USGP is planning a U.S. workshop to is continuing tests and resulting represents the warm adaptive optics system. explore science and technology drivers adjustments of the assembled and for future Gemini instrumentation in functional instrument. Particular attention is being paid to detector advance of the Aspen meeting. UNITED KINGDOM Isobel Hook & Pat Roche

his is a very busy period for will be replaced when the opportunity United Kingdom instruments arises. Pat Roche Steps Down Tdestined for Gemini, with As Gemini Project Scientist engineering, testing and commissioning Michelle Patrick Roche stepped down as UK Gemini activities on all of the major UK Gemini Project Scientist on Septtember 30, 2002. instruments. Following is an update on Almost a year after it started open-time He has held this post for the past six years. His tenure covered the completion of their status. observations on UKIRT, Michelle has the construction of both telescopes, their been removed from the telescope in dedication and the beginning of operations. GMOS-S preparation for a period of engineering prior to being installed on Gemini His contributions to the The second Multi-Object Spectrograph North. The detector array is being success of the Gemini Observatory are legion, (GMOS-S) was placed on the flexure rig at upgraded, new fore-optics fitted, and both in leading the the ATC in Edinburgh for a final series of changes made to two of the grating UK effort and as a tests in early October, 2002. Acceptance orientations. key participant in tests were passed in late October, allowing the Observatory’s development. shipment to Chile in November, 2002, for The instrument is scheduled to go on Pat Roche installation as the first facility instrument Gemini North early in 2003. After a Pat joined the UK Very Large Telescope on Gemini South. The UK and Canada period of commissioning and system Project (VLT) team in Oxford in 1989 to Engineering and Science teams have verification, Michelle is scheduled take responsibility for the infrared aspects worked very hard to maintain the to be made available for community of the telescope design and instruments. He schedule that was established earlier in use late in Semester 2003A. Michelle played a vital role in marshaling support for the year. One outstanding issue has been proved to be reliable and popular on an 8-meter telescope, particularly among the UK’s community of infrared astronomers. that one of the three blue-optimized UKIRT, conducting a number of EEV CCDs has an intermittent fault imaging, spectroscopic and polarimetric We would like to thank Pat for his leadership which has resulted in only 2.5 of the 3 programs. We expect the large increase of the UK Gemini Support Group and for CCDs operating reliably. This has no in sensitivity offered on Gemini will his dedication to the success of the Gemini impact on the imaging performance of increase the demand further. Observatory. We also wish him well in GMOS-S, but may truncate the spectra his future research and look forward to a continuing close relationship. at one end. The malfunctioning CCD bHROS detector, or possibly the whole focal plane array, if devices with improved The fiber-fed, high-resolution bench overall performance can be obtained, spectrograph (bHROS) is now integrated

24 Gemini Newsletter #25 - December 2002 and has been undergoing final tests in the Observatory (ESO) at the end of June, telescope and instrument status (and optics laboratory at University College 2002. However, applications to Gemini control) screens could be watched in London. This instrument, too, has for Semester 2003A were at a record level real time. Eavesdropping may be useful suffered from CCD problems with only (58 proposals), confirming the strong for National Office support for queue 1.5 of the 2 CCDs in the focal plane demand for observing time. observing, mini-queues and for classical operating correctly. This will not have programs with large observing teams. a significant impact on the laboratory Bearing in mind the UK’s involvement tests, but will further reduce echellogram in other large telescopes, strategic Staff Changes coverage until a replacement becomes decisions on the next generation of available. Gemini instrumentation are clearly There have recently been some staff important. We are preparing for the changes at the UK Gemini Support The fiber-feed to bHROS is under Aspen 2003 workshop on Gemini future Group. Dr. Pat Roche’s term as UK construction and a fit check of the pick- instrumentation by holding general UK Project Scientist came to an end at the off module designed to sit near the focal preparatory meetings in January, 2003, end of September (see accompanying plane of GMOS was planned to be made to discuss the UK’s future requirements story). before GMOS-S was shipped to Chile. in the context of the workshop’s scientific On-telescope commissioning of bHROS themes. Dr. Isobel Hook has moved to Oxford will wait until after GMOS-S has been after spending two years in Edinburgh, commissioned. Data Reduction Workshop followed by a year at Gemini Base Facility headquarters in Hilo, Hawai‘i, CIRPASS Now that many UK observers have working towards the successful received Gemini data, the UK Gemini commissioning of GMOS-North. As Meanwhile on the telescopes, GMOS-N Support Group (UKGSG) has held the well as particular responsibility for the continues to perform well, producing first GMOS data reduction workshop. GMOS spectrographs, she is now taking large amounts of high-quality data. In This took place over two days in over many of Pat’s duties, including August, CIRPASS, the near-IR intrafield September and involved short overview leadership of the UK Gemini Support spectroscope’s (IFU) commissioning talks followed by hands-on data reduction Group. was completed. Built at the Cambridge sessions using example imaging, long-slit University Institute of Astronomy, and MOS data. Fifteen people attended Dr. Reba Bandyopadhyay remains in CIRPASS made a very successful from around the UK. The presentations, Oxford and is responsible for support of nine-night Demonstration Science example data and scripts will be made near-IR instruments. run at Gemini South. CIRPASS will generally available via the web. be available as a visitor instrument in Since August, Dr. Alistair Glasse (the 2003A. The UKGSG has also been experimenting Michelle Project Scientist, currently with remote “eavesdropping” on Gemini based in Hilo) has been providing user Observing Activity North by connecting to the summit and support for Michelle, and this will Base Facility via a video link. In August, continue until March, 2003. This summer has seen major changes 2002, this was used for three nights in the UK ground-based telescope (days in the UK!) and was found to be Finally, as an added bonus, the group in programs with the initiation of the UK’s very effective. Almost-real-time analysis Oxford has now moved into new offices participation in the European Southern of the data was possible, and several with splendid purple chairs! CANADA Dennis Crabtree

Canada received 32 proposals for south clearly had a devastating effect The Gemini North facility Adaptive Semester 2003A, 29 for Gemini North on the subscription rate for Gemini Optics system, Altair, was delivered to and three for Gemini South. This South. GMOS was the most popular the summit of Mauna Kea in October is a subscription rate of 3.5 and 0.3 instrument, receiving 20 proposals for (see accompanying article on Page 18). Its respectively. 75% of the total time requested on both first night on the telescope was scheduled telescopes. for mid-November. By the time you read The lack of facility instruments in the this article, Altair should have produced

Gemini Newsletter #25 - December 2002 25 many spectacular images. for commissioning the instruments and (Aspen 2003). Canada will be forming instrument modes that will be arriving at small working groups for each of the four The Canadian Gemini Science Steering Gemini over the next 18 months or so. Aspen science themes. These working Committee (CGSSC) met in early groups will lead the development of October prior to the Sydney Gemini The CGSSC also discussed the plans science cases that will culminate in a Science Committee meeting. The main for Canadian preparation for the second meeting in Montreal in early May, topic of discussion was the priorities Gemini Instrumentation Workshop 2003. Canadian Students (GMOS) a software glitch in the new commissioned instrument created a great deal Use Gemini more data than was originally intended. The This summer, the Canadian Gemini Partner resulting image is featured on the cover of this Office sponsored an extremely successful newsletter. Thanks to unanticipated in-depth outreach project initiated by Gemini Project data, Gemini Astronomer Dr. Colin Aspin Scientist Dr. Harvey Richer. realized the image had scientific value due to information it provided on a Herbig-Haro jet The program was an essay contest in British within the nebula. He has proposed further Columbia to promote astronomy in area studies of the jet. Because of this, Ingrid’s schools. The contest was sponsored by the essay and image resulted in a large amount of Canadian Gemini Partner Office, the H.R. media interest, especially in Canada. Ingrid MacMillan Space Centre, the Herzberg is a student at the Southlands Elementary Institute of Astrophysics (HIA), the National School in Vancouver. Research Council of Canada, and the University of British Columbia. The other winner (from the younger category) was 9-year-old Harveen Dhaliwal from Harry The original contest prize was to be an image Sayers Elementary School in Abbotsford, B.C. of the essay winners’ favorite celestial object Harveen requested an image of the planet taken by Gemini, but due to a serendipitous Pluto which was obtained with GMOS and set of circumstances it went much further than combined with some earlier adaptive optics Contest winners Ingrid Braul, 13, right, and Harveen Dhaliwal, images obtained by Gemini in 1999. this. 9, look at a projected image of Gemini Associate Director Dr. Jean-René Roy who congratulated the essay winners from Hilo via Dr. Richer, said that the Canadian group has When 13-year-old Ingrid Braul’s Trifid an Internet link at the award ceremonies at the H.R. MacMillan proposal was imaged on Gemini North by Space Centre in Vancouver, B.C. Canadian Gemini Project already launched plans to expand the essay the Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph Scientist Dr. Harvey Richer looks on. contest nationwide for the upcoming year. AUSTRALIA Warrick Couch

t has been a busy time for the a “Pre-Abingdon-II” Workshop, the Offices (NGO) present who provided Australian Gemini community, first step in its preparation for the second interesting insights into the preparations Iespecially in the last month. In mid- Gemini Instrumentation Workshop and priorities of their communities in October, the Australian Gemini Office at Aspen next year. This was well the context of Aspen 2003. hosted the 19th meeting of the Gemini attended, with astronomers from as far Science Committee (GSC). This was north as Queensland and as far south as The majority of the workshop program held at the University of New South Melbourne being present. was devoted to talks from members of Wales Conference Centre at Little Bay, the Australian community, covering a a beautiful seaside and golf course setting The presence of all three of the Gemini broad range of scientific interests and on the coast just south of Sydney harbor. Observatory’s Associate Directors was aspirations that they have for Gemini Despite the obvious distractions at such a very much valued and appreciated, in the post-2006 era. The workshop venue, it was a very productive meeting, particularly the briefings they gave on concluded with a lively discussion of with many important developments on the Abingdon process, the Aspen 2003 the issues and the formulation of a plan both the scientific and instrumentation meeting, the Gemini instrumentation for coordinating Australian efforts for fronts for the GSC to consider and program, and Multi-Conjugate Adaptive Aspen. discuss in detail. On the day following Optics (MCAO). We were also very the GSC meeting, the Australian fortunate to have colleagues from the Two days after this workshop, a very community met at the same venue for U.S., Canada and UK National Gemini successful GMOS Data Reduction

26 Gemini Newsletter #25 - December 2002 Workshop was held at the Anglo- field mirror array. A new mirror is being American Observatory (AAO). This manufactured and will be installed before was lead by Dr. Isobel Hook of the UK the fourth cooldown. The first spectrum National Gemini Office, who kindly of the Na I D doublet using the J grating agreed to stay on after the GSC meeting in second order was recorded warm with and repeat the same workshop she had the bare MUX on October 11, 2002. organized and run for the UK community in September. Isobel was ably assisted by Finally, the 2003A proposal deadline has Dr. Melinda Taylor from our NGO, just recently passed, and the response without whose heroic efforts in getting was disappointing. Only nine proposals the IRAF/Gemini package and scripts Isobel Hook assisting attendees at the Australian GMOS were received, a factor of two less than Data Reduction Workshop with the intricacies of handling installed and running on the various MOS spectra. the numbers received in each of the past workstations and laptops that were used, two semesters. However, demand still the workshop would not have happened. May, 2002. Overall, this was a success, remains high for GMOS, with four of Twelve people attended the workshop with only two mechanisms performing the six proposals received for Gemini and, with Isobel and Melinda’s expert below specifications when driven at North requesting this instrument (the assistance, spent most of the day doing cryogenic temperatures. These were the other two being for Michelle). hands-on reduction of MOS data. grating turret and the On-instrument Although this severely tested people’s Wavefront Sensor (OIWFS) gimbal The overall subscription factor for patience at times (with expletives heard mirror. Both of these problems have since Gemini North was 1.32. In contrast, on a number of occasions!), there was been fixed. NIFS is currently pumping Gemini South was undersubscribed, a great sense of pride and achievement down for its second cooldown, this time with only three proposals received, at the end of the day when participants with all its optics and an engineering requesting a total of 11.75 hours (27 completed their reduction, armed with detector installed in the cryostat. The hours were available). nice plots of all their fully calibrated and optics were installed in September, fluxed spectra. and have since undergone a lengthy Peter McGregor and his team have alignment process. The integral field also been busy in preparing a Concept Australia’s first Gemini instrument, unit works extremely well in producing Design Study for the Gemini South NIFS, our Near-Infra Red Integral Field a reformatted “staircase” slit image that Adaptive Optics Imager (GSAOI). They Unit Spectrograph, being built by Peter is fed to the spectrograph. This bodes put together an excellent submission, McGregor and his team at the Research well for the success of the instrument. A which they presented to the Instrument School of Astronomy & Astrophysics, small gap exists in the present slit pattern Review and Selection Committee in Australian National University (RSAA/ between each slit image. This has been Hilo in August. ANU), completed its first cooldown in traced to a manufacturing error in the ARGENTINA Nidia Morrell

embers of the Argentinian A special session was also devoted to presently being developed by members Gemini Office participated Gemini during the annual meeting of of the Argentinian community, making Min a special program offered the Asociación Argentina de Astronomía, use of Gemini data. by the Planetarium of Buenos Aires City held in Buenos Aires City, September during the school winter vacation (July 16-19, 2002. The Argentinian Gemini Office received 20 to August 4, 2002). eight proposals for the observing Two members of the Argentina Gemini semester 2003A: five of them for Gemini In a tent placed for the event within Office (AGO) visited the Instituto de North (three for GMOS and two for the planetarium garden, several short Astronomía y Física del Espacio (IAFE, NIRI) and three for Gemini South (one talks were given about the Gemini Buenos Aires) on Oct. 4, 2002, to for AcqCam and two for CIRPASS). Observatory followed by questions discuss the current observing facilities The total requested time is 20.2 hours, and comments from the public, mostly offered by Gemini and the projects making a subscription factor of 1.0 for composed by children. GN and 0.76 for GS.

Gemini Newsletter #25 - December 2002 27 BRAZIL Max Faúndez-Abans

ur colleague Albert Bruch the future.” The Brazilian community Liaison meeting in La Serena in the has handed over his duties thanks him for his dedicated work and first semester, 2002, Brazil has increased Oas Brazilian Gemini Project all the spirit he displayed as Project significantly its participation in the effort Manager. His successor is Max Faúndez- Manager and on NTAC duties. of bringing the latest Gemini scientific Abans, also from the Laboratório results and technological achievements Nacional de Astrofísica/MCT (LNA). As for the proposals in Semester 2003A, to the public through the distribution of totals requested were 42.59 hours for national press releases. Naturally, Albert’s departure does not Gemini North, representing a pressure mean that he will not be involved in factor of 2.13; and 27.10 hours for The first steps toward establishing Gemini matters in the future. Gemini South, a pressure factor of proactive science monitoring throughout 2.26. This is an average oversubscription the country, in order to develop press On the contrary, as Director of the LNA, factor of 2.18 for both telescopes. There releases that can be multi-partner the Brazilian National Gemini Office, he has been a clear rise in the number of coordinated, have been taken. The will continue to work for the success of proposals submitted by the Brazilian number of accepted Brazilian telescope the Gemini partnership. “So this is not a community in comparison to Semester requests has now reached a minimum ‘goodbye,’ but rather a ‘Hello,’” Albert 2002B. critical mass, so we expect to produce a said. “And I am looking forward to a lot of media material very soon! good collaboration with all of you in After the successful Gemini PIO CHILE Luis Campusano & Sebastian Lópes

he Chilean submission process FLAMINGOS proposals was a Chilean- writing references, and calculating for 2002B went smoothly Argentinean joint program. time overheads (which are mostly too Tonce again. This was due to optimistic). There were no Helpdesk the experience acquired in previous We continued using a simple and queries in 2002B. semesters by both the Chilean National fast email submission procedure. In Gemini Office (CNGO) and the this procedure, the proposals must be After two years of very successful Principle Investigators (PIs). prepared using the PIT and then the functioning of the Chilean Gemini Time .XML file and figures are emailed to Allocation Committee, three members Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CONICYT. In addition, our deadline completed their terms and were renewed. Científicas y Técnicas (CONICYT) is two to three weeks later than other The current membership is as follows: received seven proposals for the Gemini- observatories. This provides PIs extra Chairman Jose Maza (Universidad South telescope, with a total of 111 time to prepare their Gemini proposals. de Chile), Leonardo Bronfman hours requested. This corresponds to a The deadline for semester 2003A was (Universidad de Chile), Douglas Geisler record subscription factor of 2.5. October 21, 2002. (Universidad de Concepcion), Leopoldo Infante (Pontificia Universidad Four proposals were for FLAMINGOS During the technical review of the Catolica de Chile), Elizabeth Lada and three for T-ReCS. The International proposals we usually do not encounter (University of Florida), Mark Phillips Time Allocation Committee (NTAC) major problems. Minor difficulties (Carnegie Mellon University) and Paul assigned time to the four best-ranked are found in the observing conditions Schechter (Massachusetts Institute of proposals (one for T-ReCS and three specifications, building and attaching Technology). for FLAMINGOS). One of the useful figures and their captions,

28 Gemini Newsletter #25 - December 2002 (1)

(11) (2)

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(10)

(4)

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(5) Gemini Observatory, Isobel Hook and the GMOS System Verification Team Approximately 200 family, friends and colleagues gathered to GEMINI NORTH (8) honor the naming of the Gemini North telescope, (6) “The Frederick C. Gillett PROBES DEEP SKY WITH GMOS Gemini Telescope” in ceremonies on Mauna From the Milky Way Suburbs to the Edge of the Universe Kea and via video to Hilo, Tucson and La This recently released image obtained during commissioning galaxies falling onto each other. Also shown in this image Serena. The ceremonies and system verification of the Gemini Multi-Object are foreground, low mass stars in the outer regions of our included the unveiling Spectrograph (GMOS) on Gemini North demonstrates Milky Way that are currently under study. (7) of a dedicatory plaque, a Gemini’s ability to see virtually to the edges of the known Hawaiian makana (gift) ceremony and speeches universe. The final image is a combination of several frames using by several dignitaries. A g’,r’ and i’ filters. The image covers 5.5 arcminutes x 5.5 reception and banquet in The z=4 quasar (PMN2314+0201), visible here as the small arcminutes and the image quality (fwhm) is: 0.7” in g’ and honor of Fred and the telescope’s greenish object at center, is probably more than 10 billion r’ and 0.5” in i’ naming followed in Hilo. light years away – taking us back close to the beginnings of Pictured here are highlights our universe. Some of the smallest and faintest objects in For more information on this data see: http:// of the naming ceremony and the banquet. An image key is this image are thought to be coalescing galaxies or proto- www.gemini.edu/science/gemdf.html provided at the bottom of the Photos by Kirk Pu‘uohau-Pummill facing page. THE GEMINI OBSERVATORY is an international partnership managed by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy under a cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation.

Gemini Observatory Gemini Observatory Northern Operations Center Southern Operations Center 670 North A‘ohoku Place c/o AURA, Casilla 603 Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720, USA La Serena, Chile Phone (808) 974-2500 / Fax: (808) 935-9235 Phone 011-5651-205-600 / Fax: 011-5651-205-650

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UNITED STATES • UNITED KINGDOM • CANADA • CHILE • AUSTRALIA • ARGENTINA • BRAZIL

Naming of the Frederick C. Gillett Gemini Telescope

Inside This Issue

• Tribute to Dr. Frederick C. Gillett • Recent Science Highlights On The Cover: • Altair Adaptive Optics System Update “The Heart of the Trifid” The Gemini North GMOS image • Galactic Center Conference Report featured on the cover was obtained as part • Safety First at Gemini of an outreach program in Canada. See story on Page 26 for details. • The Duke of York Visits Gemini South Gemini Observatory/GMOS image Gemini North Base Facility