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Important
Information
The Gemini Observatory
Mauna Kea, Hawaii
The
Frederick C. Gillett Gemini North Telescope
is located on Hawaii's Mauna
Kea as part of the international community of observatories that have
been built to take advantage of the superb atmospheric conditions on
this long dormant volcano that rises almost 14,000' into the dry, stable
air of the Pacific. The Gemini Observatory's international head-quarters
is located in Hilo, Hawaii at the University of Hawaii
at Hilo's University Park.
Both of the Gemini telescopes (the other
one is in Chile) have been
designed to take advantage of the latest technology and
thermal controls
to excel in a wide variety
of optical & infrared capabilities.
Gemini's aggressive instrument program
keeps the observatory at the
cutting edge
of astronomical research. By incorporating technologies
such as laser guide stars, Multi-Conjugate Adaptive Optics and
multi-object spectroscopy, astronomers in the Gemini partnership have
access to the latest tools
for exploring the universe
www.gemini.edu
Click here for Amateur Astronomy
Magazine's article on "A Visit to Gemini and Subaru Observatories"
IMPORTANT_INFORMATION
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The Gemini Staff can accommodate a maximum of 10 persons on the
tour. Reservations for the tour will be taken on a first-come,
first-served basis.
1. You must register
for the Gemini Tour and pay the fees to reserve your space on
the "Insider's Telescope Tour"
2.
You must download,
fill out, and return the Gemini visitor's form BEFORE you
arrive on the Big Island.
Follow the steps below carefully:
CLICK HERE
to download the
form.
Write "Alt Az" on
the signature page of release form
MAIL the form to the address on the first
page, C/O Richard Valcourt in time for it to arrive before you do!
(Ignore the
instructions to give it to your tour guide.)You can also email
an electonic copy of page 5* to Richard Valcourt at
rvalcourt@gemini.edu and
bring the rest of the hardcopy with you to the tour.
3. You will need to bring a warm (down or comparable) jacket,
and a warm cap and gloves. (No surprise to an astronomer!)
4.
The share of expenses for the Gemini "insider's" tour is $75 and
includes:
● Transportation (a reserved seat on the van)
departing from Hilo (Uncle Billy's Hilo Bay Hotel),
gas, and misc. expenses.
● Dinner at Hale Pohaku
Tour
is limited to 10 persons so sign up now!
* If you downloaded a version before 2/4/10, you should
send page 6 to Richard. |
Additional Requirements
| The summit of
Mauna Kea is just short of 14,000 feet. It is spectacularly
beautiful but it is cold and the air is very thin. Touring
the telescope under these conditions can be very strenuous. One
in twenty visitors succumb to altitude sickness. There are
several important safety and health items to consider:
1. You must be in
good health, with no heart or breathing problems.
2. You must be at least 16 years old.
3. You must fill out, sign, and return the Gemini Observatory
Visitors Form TO GEMINI HEADQUARTERS This
form must be received by Gemini staff in advance or you will not be permitted to
tour the telescope.
(See above for information on the required
form)
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Big Island Travel and Hotel Information
Reservation and Cost
The "Insiders" tour of the
Gemini Observatory
and the Fredrick C. Gillett
Gemini North Telescope
will begin at the Gemini Observatory Headquarters in Hilo.
To
reserve your Gemini
Observatory Tour, pay by
PayPal below or send a check or MO (USD) made out to
Galileo's Legacy to:
Hawaii International
Conference 2010
C/O Dannielle Tassell
400 N. Laredo Ln.
Payson, AZ 85541
Gemini
"insiders" Tour including telescope tour
$75 per person (includes transportation and lunch)
(You can change the number of persons on the PayPal screen if you are
reserving for more than one)
To
"check out" simply stay on the PayPal tab (webpage) after last purchase.
Use browser back button to return to the Conference Website
The Gemini North Telescope dwarfs
participants on last year's tour
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