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Observing GRBs and Supernovae at Gemini Observatory as Target of Opportunity (ToO)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 September 2012

M. Lemoine-Busserolle
Affiliation:
Gemini North Observatory, 670 N. A'Ohoku St, Hilo, HI, USA 96720
K. C. Roth
Affiliation:
Gemini North Observatory, 670 N. A'Ohoku St, Hilo, HI, USA 96720
E. R. Carrasco
Affiliation:
Gemini South Observatory, c/o AURA, Casilla 603, La Serena, CHILE
B. W. Miller
Affiliation:
Gemini South Observatory, c/o AURA, Casilla 603, La Serena, CHILE
A. W. Stephens
Affiliation:
Gemini North Observatory, 670 N. A'Ohoku St, Hilo, HI, USA 96720
I. Jorgensen
Affiliation:
Gemini North Observatory, 670 N. A'Ohoku St, Hilo, HI, USA 96720
B. Rodgers
Affiliation:
Gemini South Observatory, c/o AURA, Casilla 603, La Serena, CHILE
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Abstract

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The Gemini Observatories primarily operate a multi-instrument queue, with observers selecting observations that are best suited to weather and seeing conditions. The Target of Opportunity (ToO) observing mode is intended to allow observation of targets that cannot be specified in advance but which have a well defined external trigger such as distant supernovae or Gamma Ray bursts. In addition, the instrument and configuration best suited to observe the ToO may depend on properties of the event, such as brightness and redshift which again are impossible to know in advance. Queue observing naturally lends itself to Target of Opportunity (ToO) support since the time required to switch between programs and instruments is very short, and the staff observer is trained to operate all the available instruments and modes. Gemini Observatory has supported pre-approved ToO programs since beginning queue operations, and has implemented a rapid (less than 15 minutes response time) ToO mode since 2005. ToOs comprise a significant fraction of the queue (20–25% of the highest ranking band) nowadays. We discuss the ToO procedures, the statistics of rapid ToOs observing at Gemini North Observatory, the science related to GRBs and supernovae that this important mode has enabled.

Type
Poster Papers
Copyright
Copyright © International Astronomical Union 2012

References

Roth, et al. 2010, Proc. SPIE 7737, 77370N (2010)Google Scholar