The Gemini Control System

R.J. McGonegal
The Gemini 8-m Telescopes Project

The author will describe the software, hardware, and control components of the Gemini system as well as detailing the requirements which resulted in this design. The Gemini system has demanding requirements in the areas of tracking, pointing, image quality and operations which require a novel approach to all aspects of the design. In addition, the work is being done in a distributed fashion on 3 continents - which itself puts constraints on the design.