As Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI) enters into a formal partnership with the Gemini Observatory from the 2019A semester, there are several new and notable changes that the Korean user community should know.
Observing Mode
- No more dedicated Korean observing blocks! Korean observing programs will be carried out as parts of the regular queue.
- Classic mode observation is available but it may require very strong justification.
- Target of Opportunity (ToO) mode will follow the general rules applied for the Gemini full partners. (click here for more information)
Proposal Routes
Regular proposal is available as it has been in the previous semesters. Korean Gemini users now can utilize most categories of the Gemini proposal provided for the formal partners as follow :
- Joint Proposal : Korean Gemini users can submit Joint Proposal by collaborating with the PIs of other Gemini international partners. (Joint Proposal)
- Subaru-Gemini exchange Proposal : Korean Gemini users can apply for observing time of the Subaru Telescope through the Time Exchange program. (Exchange Time)
- Poor weather program is available, and can be submitted at the time of regular Call for Proposal or any time during semester. Poor weather programs will be placed in Band 4, and neither the PI nor partner country will be charged for any time used. (Poor weather programs)
- Director’s Discretionary Time (DDT) is also available. It’s, in fact, been available for any astronomer worldwide. (DDT)
- Fast Turnaround (FT) program is available only after Feb. 2019. FT runs by monthly-based submission and assessment. The total FT time per partner may not exceed 10% of the total partner’s time for a given semester. (FT)
- Large and Long program (LLP) is not available as of now. There will be a discussion in the near future how to coordinate LLP for the Korean user community. (LLP)
Observing Period
- Feb. 2019 ~ July. 2019
Available Hours
- ~125.4 hours (Gemini North: ~63.6 hours, Gemini South: ~61.8 hours)
Instruments
Check out the availability and restrictions of the instruments for 2019A semester in the following Gemini page : click here
Proposers must use Gemini Phase-I Tool PIT. The PIT is a downloadable application that is used to provide "front-page" information including the title, abstract, and contact info for the investigators. Instrument configuration details, target coordinates, and observing constraints are also included in PIT. "Essay" sections are included in a single PDF attachment, which can be prepared using an MS Word or LaTeX template. Detailed help pages and video tutorials are available on the Gemini web site.
Please consider these suggestions and guidelines when preparing your proposal:
- Please use the template that can be found at the PIT software distribution site (the link will be announced when ready) to prepare the Essay section (please use non-US version of template, GemPhase1.doc or GemPhase1.tex; for the reference, check the previous call for proposal pages).
- The scientific justification page has one-page limit for the text. Two additional pages can be used for references and figures. For page limits of other part of the essay, please refer to the description in the templates.
- Be sure to include example Integration Time Calculator (ITC) output -- please see the instructions in the template.
- When PI is a graduate student, please clarify who is his/her thesis advisor in the scheduling request section within the PIT.
For more details, please refer to Gemini’s page at http://www.gemini.edu/sciops/observing-gemini.