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Gemini e-Newscast #83
May 18, 2016
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Helium Pulsations in Extremely Low-Mass White Dwarf Precursors
Stars can reveal their internal structures through pulsations that are detectable from the outside. In the case of several extremely low-mass white dwarf precursors, Alexandros Gianninas (University of Oklahoma) and collaborators show that helium in the atmosphere is required for such a star to be unstable to pulsations. The researchers used the Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph (GMOS) on the Gemini North telescope along with the 1.2-meter telescope at the Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory in Arizona to measure the lightcurves earlier this year. The work is featured at the Gemini website, and the full results are published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.
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Light curve (left) and Fourier amplitude spectrum (right) for the pulsating extremely low-mass white dwarf precursor J1141+3850. The red tick marks denote the significantly detected frequencies.
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Request for Instrument Proposals, Generation 4 #3
We are pleased to announce the Request for Proposals for the next Gemini facility instrument, known as Generation 4 #3 (Gen 4#3). Gen 4#3, a wide-band medium-resolution spectrograph is envisioned to take advantage of opportunities related to the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST). Proposals are due August 29, 2016. A pre-proposal conference will be held in Tucson, AZ, on June 8, 2016. For the full Request for Proposals and related information, please visit:
http://www.gemini.edu/sciops/future-instrumentation-amp-current-development/gen-43-home-page/rfp
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New GMOS Data Reduction Cookbook
A new data reduction cookbook for GMOS is now available on the US NGO website. It offers instructions for the reduction and calibration of the most common GMOS imaging and spectroscopy modes (longslit, multi-object spectroscopy, and integral field spectroscopy) in an easy-to-follow format with a focus on the complete process. Also check out the Getting Started page for information on data reduction for all Gemini facility instruments.
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AstroDay Hawai‘i
On Saturday, April 30th, Hilo’s annual AstroDay celebration attracted several thousand local visitors to the Prince Kuhio Plaza in Hilo. About a dozen Gemini staff helped our Public Information and Outreach group as we overtook a vacant store, all in the name of STEM education! Once inside, and after experiencing a demo on carbon dioxide snow mirror cleaning, visitors engaged in hands-on activities, and a brief introduction to the evening sky using our (newly refurbished) portable StarLab planetarium.
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Gemini Administrative Specialist Natalia Gonzalez demonstrates making (and eating) moon phases with cookies.
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