Gemini 8-M Telescopes Project, Aura, 950 N. Cherry Ave, PO Box 26732, Tucson, Arizona 85719

A -- INTEGRATED ADAPTIVE OPTICS SYSTEM CONCEPTUAL DESIGN STUDIES SOL RC980015 DUE 013198 POC Andrew Flach, Gemini Contracts Manager, 520-318-8537 WEB: General information about the Gemini Project, http://www.gemini.edu. E-MAIL: Contact Contracts Manager via email, aflach@gemini.edu. The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. (AURA) is seeking expressions of interest from organizations that would like to participate in the conceptual design of the adaptive optics system (AOS) for the Cerro Pachon, Chile, Gemini telescope and the addition of laser guide star (LGS) capability to the adaptive optics system for the Mauna Kea, Hawaii, Gemini telescope. The Gemini Integrated AOS consists of three major elements: (a) a natural guide star (NGS) AOS for the Mauna Kea telescope, known as "ALTAIR," currently under development at Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics; (b) a sodium line laser LGS/NGS AOS for the Cerro Pachon telescope; and (c) a sodium line laser LGS capability for the Mauna Kea telescope which is an upgrade to ALTAIR. Conceptual designs for items (b) and (c) are the subject of this Announcement of Opportunity. The Gemini 8m Telescopes Project is an international collaboration to build two 8 meter telescopes, one to be located on Mauna Kea in Hawaii, theother to be located on Cerro Pachon in Chile. The Gemini project partners include the USA, United Kingdom, Canada, Argentina, Brazil and Chile. The Gemini project is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. (AURA) under contract to the National Science Foundation. Organizations that are interested in receiving the full text of this Announcement of Opportunity should send a letter of interest by 30 January, 1998, to the following address: Gemini 8m Telescopes Project, 950 North Cherry Avenue, PO Box 26732, Tucson, Arizona 85719-6732 (PO Box) 85719 (Street address), Attn: Contracts Manager, Announcement of Opportunity No. RC980015. Facsimile 520-318-8590. Expressions of interest in response to the full text of the Announcement of Opportunity are due 27 February, 1998. (0012)

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