The Gemini-South MCAO operational model: insights on a new era of telescope operation

Gelys Trancho; Matthieu Bec; Etienne Artigau; Celine d'Orgeville; Damien Gratadour; Francois J. Rigaut; Brian Walls

doi:10.1117/12.788183

12 July 2008 The Gemini-South MCAO operational model: insights on a new era of telescope operation

Gelys Trancho, Matthieu Bec, Etienne Artigau, Celine d'Orgeville, Damien Gratadour, Francois J. Rigaut, Brian Walls

Proceedings Volume 7016, Observatory Operations: Strategies, Processes, and Systems II; 70161Q (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.788183
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2008, Marseille, France

Abstract

The Gemini Observatory is implementing a Multi-Conjugate Adaptive Optics (MCAO) system as a facility instrument for the Gemini South telescope (GeMS). The system will include 5 Laser Guide Stars, 3 Natural Guide Stars, and 3 deformable mirrors, optically conjugated at different altitudes, to achieve near-uniform atmospheric compensation over a one arc minute square field of view. This setup implies some level of operational complexity. In this paper we describe how GeMS will be integrated into the flow of Gemini operations, from the observing procedures necessary to execute the programs in the queue (telescope control software, observing tools, sequence executor) to the safety implementation needed such as spotters/ASCAM, space command and laser traffic control software.

Citation Download Citation

Gelys Trancho, Matthieu Bec, Etienne Artigau, Celine d'Orgeville, Damien Gratadour, Francois J. Rigaut, and Brian Walls "The Gemini-South MCAO operational model: insights on a new era of telescope operation", Proc. SPIE 7016, Observatory Operations: Strategies, Processes, and Systems II, 70161Q (12 July 2008); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.788183

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