Gemini Observatory announces Dr. Massimo Robberto of Space Telescope Science Institute and Johns Hopkins University as the new OCTOCAM Principal Investigator (PI). OCTOCAM is a next-generation astronomical instrument designed for the 8-meter Gemini South telescope in Chile.

“I’m honored and excited to be given the opportunity to scientifically lead the OCTOCAM instrument project to completion,” said Robberto. “The impressive team is working hard to complete the preliminary design of this exciting instrument,” he adds. “I’ll do all I can to make this world-class instrument scientifically compelling and in time for the arrival of the LSST.”

“Dr. Robberto is an exceptional addition to an outstanding team,” said Dr. Stephen Goodsell, OCTOCAM’s Program Manager at Gemini Observatory. “He has many decades of experience leading instrumentation and science programming within the ground- and space-based communities – we are lucky to have him on our team!”

Dr. Alexander van der Horst, who filled the interim PI position until now, will return to the Project Scientist position. “We thank Dr. van der Horst for his important contributions and hard work as interim PI.” Goodsell continues, “Alexander’s scientific leadership has helped us remain on course for an April Preliminary Design Review and bring this powerful instrument to Gemini South on schedule.”

OCTOCAM is a unique, multichannel imager and spectrograph that will provide rapid exposures of high-resolution images and moderate-resolution spectra simultaneously from ultraviolet to infrared wavelengths. The team expects to deliver the instrument in 2022.

If you have further questions on this announcement please contact:

Stephen Goodsell: sgoodsell”at”gemini.edu

Massimo Robberto: robberto”at”stsci.edu