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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-AU link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:15.0pt'>2021A Call for Gemini GSAOI Proposals<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>In Semester 2021A the Australian astronomical community will have access to <b>4.5 nights</b> of observing time with the Gemini South Adaptive Optics Imager (GSAOI). This opportunity is a result of the agreement between AURA and the ANU team that constructed the NGS2 enhancement to the Gemini South multi conjugate adaptive optics system. The NGS2 system was commissioned in October 2019 (see attached the article published in Gemini Focus).<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The new NGS2 system allows the use of fainter guide stars – the previous limit with the old system was R=15.5 in good conditions. During commissioning the loop was closed on a R=18 star in average conditions. This results in a huge improvement of the sky coverage for GeMS (2.5 magnitude is approximately equivalent to a gain of 8 times in sky coverage). Acquisition times have also been reduced by almost tenfold. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The ANU team was awarded a total of 7 nights of guaranteed time, which they have kindly offered to the Australian community via this open call for proposals process. The total allocation was split between the 2020B and 2021A semesters. All proposals will be reviewed and assessed by ATAC. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The observing time will be allocated in ‘classical’ mode, which means that observations will be scheduled for specific nights. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The COVID-19 pandemic restrictions prohibit international travel from Australia and it is unlikely that this situation will change in the 2021A Semester. The classical mode observations will be taken by the Gemini Observatory staff, with remote assistance (control) from PI teams. The Observatory has a good experience with such operations and<span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'> </span>will work with the individual teams to ensure the best strategy for their observations and the quick access to the raw data.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b>Proposals for GSAOI observations on the Gemini South telescope in Semester 2021A (1 February 2021 - 31 July 2021) are due by<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b>*5:00pm AEST, Monday 6 October 2020.*<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b>How to apply<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Gemini proposals must be submitted using the 2021A release of the Phase I Tool (PIT) that can be downloaded from: <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/mQc7CXLW2mU9N9ZXH6G3xr?domain=software.gemini.edu/">http://software.gemini.edu/phase1/2021A/</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Please use the following page for a step-by-step guide and tutorials for submission of proposals using the Phase I Tool: <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/J0ENC5QPXJilKl1ZUl3eZr?domain=gemini.edu">http://www.gemini.edu/sciops/observing-gemini/proposal-submission/phase-i-tool-pit/phase-i-tool-help</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>For information about GSAOI and full details on instrument status, please see:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/M8LsCZY1NqijRjY5IKWOUt?domain=gemini.edu">https://www.gemini.edu/sciops/instruments/gsaoi/status-and-availability</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>as well as the official Gemini Observatory Call for Proposals at:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/EZ2bC6XQ4LfW9WJrf9aM2V?domain=gemini.edu">http://www.gemini.edu/observing/phase-i/standard-semester-program/2021a-call-proposals</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>For updates about the COVID-19 measures at the NOIRLab and Gemini South, please see:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/Xa7qC2xMQzimGmQpi9Ajeu?domain=noirlab.edu/">https://noirlab.edu/public/announcements/ann20002/</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>For more information contact the ATAC Secretariat:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b>Street Address:</b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>AAO - Macquarie University<br>105 Delhi Rd, North Ryde NSW 2113<br>Australia<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>E-mail: <a href="mailto:aat@astronomyaustralia.org.au">aat@astronomyaustralia.org.au</a><br>Web: <a href="https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/8O27C3QNPBi4M4vpFvCXBM?domain=astronomyaustralia.org.au" target="_blank">http://www.astronomyaustralia.org.au/aat.html</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'>Dr Lucyna Kedziora-Chudczer<br>Program Manager<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'>Astronomy Australia Ltd (Sydney Office)<br>E: </span><u><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:blue;mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'><a href="mailto:lucyna.chudczer@astronomyaustralia.org.au">lucyna.chudczer@astronomyaustralia.org.au</a></span></u><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'> <br>W: </span><u><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:blue;mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'><a href="https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/qZQyC4QOPEi8W8xBHjvLyC?domain=astronomyaustralia.org.au/" target="_blank"><span style='color:blue'>http://www.astronomyaustralia.org.au/</span></a></span></u><i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style='border-collapse:collapse'><tr><td width=66 valign=top style='width:49.25pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'><img border=0 width=38 height=35 style='width:.3958in;height:.3645in' id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D68123.9E4E5320" alt="aal_logo_notext"></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=510 valign=top style='width:382.7pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt'><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'>AAL is committed to equity and diversity and endeavours to create an environment in which every individual is treated with dignity and respect.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>