Telescopes Schedule

CASCA 2013 Schedule for Telescopes

2013-05-28T16:00
Telescopes
Location: Hebb Theatre Chair: Greg Fahlman
1600 Davis, Gary The JCMT: Current Status and Future Prospects
  The JCMT is, by any objective measure, the world's most productive submillimetre observatory. Equipped with a suite of unique instruments, including HARP and SCUBA-2, it is the fastest submillimetre mapping instrument in the world and has recently embarked upon a major survey programme, the JCMT Legacy Survey. The JCMT partnership is evolving and in particular Canadian access to the JCMT is currently scheduled to end on 30th September 2014. In this talk I will present an overview of the current status of the JCMT and will discuss options for the future of the observatory.
1620 Simons, Doug CFHT Status Report and Future Plans
  After a brief summary of recent metrics illustrating the scientific success of CFHT, the future of the Observatory is described through various initiatives designed to broaden the CFHT partnership, develop new capabilities, and take steps toward the replacement of CFHT with a powerful new facility dedicated to highly multiplexed wide-field spectroscopy. CFHT, in the context of the evolving landscape on Mauna Kea will also be discussed, as CFHT positions itself among a backdrop of some older facilities possibly being decommissioned while new Mauna Kea facilities are on the planning horizon.
1640 Kissler-Patig, Markus New Opportunities with the Gemini Observatory
  Gemini Observatory's new director Markus Kissler-Patig will present an update of the facility and introduce some new opportunities for astronomers at Gemini. Gemini operates twin 8-m telescopes, one in Hawaii and the other in Chile. The departure of the UK from Gemini's international partnership at the end of 2012 provided the chance to re-evaluate the services offered to Gemini users and opened new opportunities in two domains. First, Gemini will welcome discussions with groups wanting to bring their instruments for campaigns. This visiting instrument program will complement the suite of workhorse instruments offered by the Observatory, and will allow scientific breakthroughs not possible with the regular suite of instruments. Second, the Gemini observatory is exploring cross-partnership large or long programs. Gemini is considering dedicating 20% of Gemini time to high-impact large or long collaborative programs selected through a yearly call. In addition to these two major initiatives, several new instruments are expected in 2013: Flamingos-2, the Gemini Multi-conjugate adaptive optics System (GeMS), and the Gemini Planet Imager (GPI). Gemini and its Users Committee are also examining the possibility of offering some fraction of time in a fast turn-around mode, as well as "eavesdropping" for remote observing. We remain very interested in having astronomers visit the telescopes. We encourage all astronomers to come to this presentation to learn about these new opportunities, and to provide feedback how Gemini Observatory can optimally support your research.