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NSF PA/M 99-16 - May 26, 1999
Gemini North Telescope to Be Dedicated on Mauna Kea, Hawaii
The first of two Gemini telescopes will be dedicated on June 25, 1999,
near the summit of Hawaii's Mauna Kea. Gemini North and its partner, Gemini
South in Chile, are among the largest, most advanced telescopes in the
world. They will give astronomers some of the sharpest optical and infrared
views ever, as they explore the origin, evolution, and structure of the
universe.
Officials expected to participate in the June dedication of Gemini North
include National Science Foundation Director Rita Colwell and His Royal
Highness, Prince Andrew, the Duke of York.
The following media events are planned; however, due to restricted space
at the summit observatory, the number of invited media will be limited.
Media representatives must contact the National Science Foundation (NSF)
or the U.S. Gemini Program office by June 11, 1999, to request space.
(A block of hotel rooms is being held until June 2.)
Friday, June 25
- Dedication of Gemini North at Mauna Kea summit,
11:15 a.m.; hosted
by the Association of Universities for Research
in Astronomy, Inc.
- Release of Gemini North images
- Press conference with briefings on Gemini's scientific
objectives and technology
Saturday, June 26
- Media tours of Gemini North
- Dinner at Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel; keynote speaker
Dr. Robert Kirshner, Chairman and Professor
of Astronomy, Harvard University; sponsored by
Corning Incorporated
Saturday & Sunday, June 26 & 27
- Media tours of the Mauna Loa Atmospheric Observatory, Global Oscillation
Network Group station (solar observations), and Hawaii Volcano Observatory
Note: Ground transportation from hotels to all remote press activities
will be provided for invited media. The dedication will be simulcast to
the Gemini Operations Center in Hilo for those unable to attend the summit
event. Audio feeds will be available at both sites. Press kits and B-roll
footage will be available at the dedication or in advance by contacting
NSF or the U.S. Gemini Program office.
For more information contact:
Amber Jones, National Science Foundation (703) 292-8070, aljones@nsf.gov
Elizabeth Alvarez, U.S. Gemini Program (520)
318-8385, ealvarez@noao.edu
Peter Michaud, Gemini Observatory (808) 974-2510, pmichaud@gemini.edu
For photographs and additional details on the Gemini
Observatory
see: http://www.noao.edu/usgp (U.S.) or http://www.us_gemini.noao.edu/media/media1.html
(international)
Background on Gemini
Telescopes
The Gemini 8-meter Observatory Project is a multi-national
effort that will provide two nearly identical 8-meter
telescopes that together can explore the entire sky
in both optical and infrared light. Gemini North is
expected to start scientific operations by mid-2000,
and Gemini South, on Cerro Pachón in northern Chile,
about a year later. Both telescopes will incorporate
new technologies that allow large, relatively thin mirrors
to collect and focus starlight. At infared wavelengths,
these technologies make it possible at times to achieve
even more clarity than is possible with the Hubble Space
Telescope. The $184-million project is on schedule and
within budget.
Gemini receives major funding from the National Science
Foundation (NSF), which acts as the executive agency
for the international partnership. The other Gemini
partners are the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia,
Chile, Brazil, and Argentina. Each country contributes
significant scientific, technical, and financial support.
The Gemini Observatory Project is managed by the Association
of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. (AURA),
a non-profit consortium of 29 U.S. institutions and
five international affiliates.
The Gemini telescopes are the largest, most advanced
optical/infrared telescopes available to astronomers
in the United States regardless of institutional affiliation.
U.S. astronomers will receive almost half of the observing
time on Gemini. The U.S. gateway to Gemini is the U.S.
Gemini Program, a division of the National Optical Astronomy
Observatories (NOAO) in Tucson, Arizona. NOAO is operated
by AURA under a cooperative agreement with the NSF.
The U.S. Gemini Program is located at the National
Science Foundation's National Optical Astronomy Observatories,
950 North Cherry Avenue, P.O. Box 26732, Tucson, Arizona
85726, Phone: (520) 318-8385, Fax: (520) 318-8360. Send
e-mails to Elizabeth Alvarez at ealvarez@noao.edu.
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