The Gemini 8-m Telescopes Project

Physics – Optics

Scientific paper

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Scientific paper

The Gemini Project is an international collaboration of Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States to construct and operate twin 8-m telescopes in Hawaii and Chile. The principal goal of the Gemini project is to give astronomers access to the whole sky with an unprecedented combination of superb image quality and high light gathering power over the entire range of optical and infrared wavelengths observable from the ground. Main features of the draft science requirements include: 1) Image quality of 0.1 arcsec in the near infrared over a 1 arcmin field, through the use of active optics and wavefront-tilt correction; 2) Wavelength coverage with high throughput over the range 0.3 to at least 30 microns (which will require capability for different mirror coatings); 3) An IR-optimized configuration with emissivity in the 2 - 4 \ covering a 45 arcmin diameter field; 5) An optical/UV Nasmyth configuration to provide direct beam feeding of instruments requiring a gravity stable location; 6) Observing modes that will support the astronomer at the telescope and also provide for service observing, remote observing, and queue scheduling; and 7) Provision of capability for rapid switching between instruments to take advantage of changing weather conditions. The telescopes are to be as similar as possible, consistent with the science requirements. They are to have provision for future upgrades or modifications, so that they will remain frontline facilities over a lifetime expected to exceed fifty years. The project is to include an initial suite of instruments for each telescope, which will be procured from institutions within the partner countries on a competitive basis. The telescopes will also include provision for adaptive optics; the current plan is to begin with a system for low-order correction.

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