Gemini data link celebrated in four-way event

An international team of astronomers will introduce a new data link creating a seven-country “cyber observatory” through the new high-speed Internet connection between the twin Gemini telescopes in Hawaii and Chile. The link will be introduced August 13 at the National Science Foundation (NSF) in Arlington, Va., at Florida International University in Miami, Fla., and at the telescope headquarters in Hilo, Hawaii, and La Serena, Chile. The Gemini Observatory will also announce a sister cities teacher exchange.

Networks already existed to transmit large amounts of astronomical data within the United States and in several other nations, but connections across many international boundaries have taken longer to develop. The new connection, in the works for five years, allows live-time remote observations and scientific data sharing generated by the instruments on either telescope to scientists around the world without leaving their offices. The link was enabled with funding from NSF, an Internet portal to South American research institutions provided by Florida International University, and Internet2, a university research and development consortium.

The Gemini 8-meter telescopes were built and are operated by an international partnership of seven nations. NSF serves as executive agency for the partnership.

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Who: Wayne Van Citters and Tom Greene, NSF
Jim Kennedy and Matt Mountain, Gemini Observatory Mayors of Big
Island, Hawaii, and La Serena, Chile Other participants to be announced

What: Inauguration of Gemini data link

When: August 13, 2002, 3:00 p.m. EDT

Where: National Science Foundation, Room 1150
4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA (Ballston Metro Stop)
Check in at security desk, 9th & Stuart entrance
(NOTE: Access to NSF must be pre-arranged.*)

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For more information or to register, contact: Amber Jones, NSF (703) 292-8070/aljones@nsf.gov
Peter Michaud, Gemini, (808) 974-2510/pmichaud@gemini.edu

* For directions, see: http://www.nsf.gov/home/visit/visitjump.htm

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Who:	Wayne Van Citters and Tom Greene, NSF Jim Kennedy and Matt Mountain, Gemini Observatory Mayors of Big Island, Hawaii, and La Serena, Chile Other participants to be announced
What:	Inauguration of Gemini data link
When:	August 13, 2002, 3:00 p.m. EDT
Where:	National Science Foundation, Room 1150 4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA (Ballston Metro Stop) Check in at security desk, 9th & Stuart entrance (NOTE: Access to NSF must be pre-arranged.*)