Maui Science & Technology Education ExchangeMaui, February 2006

1

Science with the giant telescopes on Mauna Kea

Jean-René RoyGemini Observatory

Maui Science & Technology Education ExchangeMaui, February 2006

2

Gemini ObservatoryThe universe from two hemispheres

United States 50%United Kingdom 25%Canada 15%Australia 5%Brazil 2.5%Argentina 2.5%

Gemini North, Mauna Kea 4200 mGemini South. Cerro Pachon 2600 m

Maui Science & Technology Education ExchangeMaui, February 2006

3

Gemini N&S: multi-instrument queue observing

Gemini South

T-ReCS

GNIRSGMOS-S Michelle

GMOS-N

NIRI Altair

Gem

ini North

bHROS

Maui Science & Technology Education ExchangeMaui, February 2006

4

The Gemini Telescopes: exquisite image quality and

infrared performance

M2-9: f/14 NIRI-Z/ALTAIR, FWHM ~ 0.07” (38” x 42”) Perseus Cluster NGC 1283: NIRI f/6, 2’x1.4’,FWHM < 0.3”

AO NGS

Natural seeing

Maui Science & Technology Education ExchangeMaui, February 2006

5

Gemini/Keck Titan campaign

• Coordinated Gemini N and Keck II nightly AO imaging of Titan led to discovery of short-lived clouds

• New observations pinpoint source at surface– 47 nights on GN and 41 on Keck during

2003 and 2004 apparitions -- few minutes per night

• CH4 should be destroyed by photolytic activity in 107-108 yrs (~200 kg/s).

– Replenishing mechanism needed.• Gemini/Keck show short-lived clouds

clustering at 40oS latitude and ~350oW longitude

– Clouds surmised to be created by geysering or cryovolcanism in this region: CH4 being spat out.

Roe et al., Science, 2005

Maui Science & Technology Education ExchangeMaui, February 2006

6

The Galactic Center : gold mine of discovery withadaptive optics

IRS 13: 1300 Msunblack hole holding together small clusterof six massive stars(Maillard et al. 2004)2000 Gemini/Hokupa’a-36 AO imaging

Maui Science & Technology Education ExchangeMaui, February 2006

7

“With LGS AO, we can determine, for the first time, orbits of the massive young stars located more than 0.1 parsecs

away from the black hole.” (Lu et al. 2006)The Paradox of Youth

?

HKL Laser Image (10’’ on a side = 0.4pc)

(circular orbits)

(circular or elliptical orbits)

(Jessica R. Lu, Andrea M. Ghez et al.)

Maui Science & Technology Education ExchangeMaui, February 2006

8

Mapping stellar orbits of young stars with Keck LGS AO

-- Many of the young stars lie in a single plane.

-- Stars in the plane are elliptical (not circular). At more than the 3 sigma confidence level-- Many stars have non-circular orbits which points to the infalling cluster

formation scenario.

(Lu, Ghez et al. 2006)

Maui Science & Technology Education ExchangeMaui, February 2006

9

Towards LGS AO science at Gemini North

• GN 14 W solid state laser built under contract

•Deliver within cost and on schedule by Coherent Technology

• Most of the integration work with the telescope systems and ALTAIR completed.

•Produces ~ 9 mag “star”•To be used for imaging and spectroscopy

50 W solid-state laser for Gemini South and 20 W solid state laser for Keck I Laser --delivery in 2007

Joint Gemini/Keck contract signed with Lockheed-Martin Coherent Technology

Maui Science & Technology Education ExchangeMaui, February 2006

10

New Pre-Alignment Camera

Kaniela Dement CFAO Akamai InternshipGemini North Observatory University of Hawaii-HiloMentor: Celine d’Orgeville

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.QuickTime™ and a

TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressorare needed to see this picture.

Maui Science & Technology Education ExchangeMaui, February 2006

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Project TCMPAC at Gemini North

T russ P ointing M irr or (T P M )

Lase r Vane Duct

T russ F o ld M irr or (T F M ) T russ Cente ring

M irr or (TC M )

Top End Rin g M irr or (TR M )

B TO Optica l B ench (B TOO B )

Design and install a new pre-alignment camera for remote viewingthe Trust Centering Mirror

Maui Science & Technology Education ExchangeMaui, February 2006

12

A collaboration of “giants”:Gemini - Keck - Subaru

• Observing time exchanges– Five nights of HIRES (Keck) for five nights of MICHELLE (Gemini) -

started in 2005A– Five nights of SuprimeCam and MOIRCS (Subaru) for five nights of

GMOS/NIFS (Gemini North and South) - to start in 2006B• Several active collaborations in operational support and new

technology development (coordination of observing, shared pool of spotters, laser, instruments, detectors, etc.)

Maui Science & Technology Education ExchangeMaui, February 2006

13

Gemini+Keck+Subaru: strengthening the alliance

4 x 8m

ESO- VLT, ChileMauna Kea, Hawaii

Cerro Pachon, Chile

Our strategic observatory “system”= Public + Private = National + InternationalOur science competitor is ESO VLT+

Maui Science & Technology Education ExchangeMaui, February 2006

14

NGS Adaptive Optics: ALTAIR conjugation

[FWHM ~0.065 arcsec across the field]