Gemini 8-m Telescopes Project

C. Matt Mountain; Fred C. Gillett; Richard Kurz

doi:10.1117/12.269047

21 March 1997 Gemini 8-m Telescopes Project

C. Matt Mountain, Fred C. Gillett, Richard Kurz

Proceedings Volume 2871, Optical Telescopes of Today and Tomorrow; (1997) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.269047
Event: Optical Telescopes of Today and Tomorrow, 1996, Landskrona/Hven, Sweden

Abstract

Construction of the Gemini Telescopes is underway. The first mirror blank has been completed, concrete piers on both Mauna Kea and Cerro Pachon have been poured, fabrication of the telescope structures has started and the erection of the first enclosures have begun. In this paper, we give a progress report on the Gemini 8-M Telescopes Project. In addition, we highlight some of the unique scientific characteristics of the Gemini Telescopes including our approach to image quality performance, the use infrared wavefront sensors, the development of silver coatings and our 'adaptable observing' system. The scientific performance of these telescopes will be heavily dependent on atmospheric conditions, Gemini will be allocating at least 50% of its observing time to 'queue scheduled observing.' The implications of adopting this novel observing mode on the design of the control system and on the telescope operations model are briefly discussed.

Citation Download Citation

C. Matt Mountain, Fred C. Gillett, and Richard Kurz "Gemini 8-m Telescopes Project", Proc. SPIE 2871, Optical Telescopes of Today and Tomorrow, (21 March 1997); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.269047

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