UK Gemini support

双子座天文台运行着两个8米光学/红外望远镜，配备了一些世界上最灵敏的仪器，一个在夏威夷的莫纳克亚山顶上，另一个在智利的塞罗帕雄，代表六国伙伴关系。通过STFC的贡献，英国获得了20%的观测时间。这段时间是通过同行评审程序分配给英国大学和研究机构的天文学家，该程序评估观测方案的科学价值。为了确保有效利用双子座，一小群天文学家为英国天文学家申请观测时间和制定仪器配置、望远镜运动和探测器设置提供支持，使观测时间得到有效利用。该小组还支持对观测建议的评估和英国对双子座天文台管理的投入。为了保持专业知识，小组成员协助天文台工作人员进行观测，也进行他们自己的个人研究项目。在这份申请中，我们寻求续签自1999年英国牛津大学国家双子座办公室成立以来一直支持该办公室的赠款。

The Gemini Observatory operates twin 8-m optical/infrared telescopes equipped with some of the most sensitive instruments in the world, one on the summit of Mauna Kea, Hawaii, and the other on Cerro Pachon, Chile, on behalf of a 6 nation partnership. Through the contributions made by the STFC, the UK has access to 20% of the observing time. This time is allocated to astronomers in UK Universities and research institutes through a peer-review process which assesses the scientific merit of observing proposals. To ensure efficient exploitation of Gemini, a small group of astronomers provides support to the UK astronomers in applying for observing time and in formulating the instrument configurations, the movements of the telescopes, and the detector settings so that the observing time is used effectively. The group also supports the evaluation of observing proposals and UK input to the Gemini observatory management. To maintain expertise, group members assist the observatory staff in conducting observations and also conduct their own individual research projects. In this application, we seek renewal of the grant that has supported the UK National Gemini Office at Oxford University since it was established in 1999.