NASA Scientific and Technical Aerospace Reports

20060000076 Gemini Observatory, Hilo, HI, USA
Gemini South Astronomer Brings Young Stars Into Focus
Roy, Jean-Rene; Gemini Focus: Newsletter of the Gemini Observatory; December 2005, pp. 65-67; In English; See also
20060000060; Copyright; Avail.: Other Sources
Every night Gemini Observatory delivers a constant stream of science data to astronomers, technicians, and information
specialists. On-site astronomers and science fellows are tasked with supporting science observations, telescope
commissioning, and participating in the full range of science activities at Gemini. This also includes following their own
research programs in specialties that include everything from solar system objects to cosmological questions. Bernadette
Rodgers is one of Gemini South’s very capable Science Fellows stationed at Cerro Pachon in Chile. She has spent the past
two years as the instrument scientist for the Gemini Near-Infrared Spectrograph (GNIRS), following its development from
acceptance through commissioning and now regular queue operations. She also handles the astronomer support schedule for
Gemini South. I really enjoy the challenges, getting things like the instruments, software, and user information working for
the first time, she said. On Cerro Pachon Bernadette pursues her research interests in Herbig Ae/Be stars. These are stars that
bridge the gap between low-mass stars like the Sun (or smaller) and the high-mass varieties like Eta Carinae and others that
will one day end their lives as supernovae. Currently she is using near-infrared spectroscopy as well as near-infrared imaging
with adaptive optics to gain more insight into these stellar newborns in the late stages of formation in clouds of gas and dust.
These are less well-studied than solar-type and low-mass young stars, she said, but they do have some extremely interesting
and curious things that are truly unique to these stars.
Derived from text
Astronomy; Gemini Project; Spectrographs; Near Infrared Radiation; Adaptive Optics
90
ASTROPHYSICS
Includes cosmology; celestial mechanics; space plasmas; and interstellar and interplanetary gases and dust.
20060000044 Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, Madrid, Spain
Dissociative Shocks in the Neighborhood of Orion IRc2 Traced with Atomic Carbon
Pardo, Juan R.; Cernicharo, Jose; Phillips, Thomas G.; [2005]; 12 pp.; In English; Original contains black and white
illustrations
Contract(s)/Grant(s): AYA2000-1784; ESP2001-4516; AYA2003-2785; NSF AST-99-80846; Copyright; Avail.: Other Sources
We present Caltech Submillimeter Observatory 10’ resolution maps of the 3P2(approaches)3P1 line of neutral atomic
carbon (809.3435 GHz) and the J=7-6 line of CO (806.6518 GHz) covering a region of 2 x4.5 around Orion IRc2 in the
BN/KL nebula. The two lines were observed with the same receiver, simultaneously, and therefore the two maps have zero
relative pointing error. The atomic carbon (CI) emission does not peak toward the IRc2 position and displays a very different
spatial distribution with respect to most molecular species. Moderately strong red wings are detected in CI around the region
defined by the high velocity CO gas with a spatial distribution that delineates a shell of approx. 20’ radius. We propose that
CO dissociation in the J-type shocks produced by the interaction of the lRc2 outflows with the surrounding quiescent gas could
play a significant role in this enhancement of atomic carbon in that shell.
Author
Submillimeter Waves; Molecular Gases; Dissociation; Astronomical Observatories; Carbon; Atmospheric Chemistry
20060000070 Gemini Observatory, Hilo, HI, USA
NIFS Sees First Light
Beck, Tracy; McGregor, Peter; Gemini Focus: Newsletter of the Gemini Observatory; December 2005, pp. 48; In English; See
also 20060000060; Copyright; Avail.: Other Sources
The Near-Infrared Integral Field Spectrograph (NIFS) first observed the night sky over Mauna Kea during the early
evening hours of October 18, 2005. A tremendous team effort by staff from the Gemini Observatory and the Australian
National University (ANU) allowed first light with NIFS to occur before the end of evening twilight. The first star observed
was centered within 0.2 arcseconds of the center of the NIFS field. This is a remarkable feat considering the fact that the NIFS
IFU has a very small field of view. NIFS is an image-slicing integral field unit built by the Research School of Astronomy
and used exclusively with the Gemini North facility adaptive optics system ALTAIR. It delivers R approx. 5000 imaging
spectra over a small 3x3arcsecond field of view on the sky. The NIFS delivery to Gemini North comes just two and a half
years after its predecessor was destroyed in the fires that raged through Canberra, Australia in January 2003. NIFS will be a
234