Hawaiian Night Skyline from Maunakea | Gemini North Telescope

Hawaiian Night Skyline from Maunakea | Gemini North Telescope

The starry band of our Milky Way galaxy hangs overhead in this panorama taken from Maunakea, the home of Gemini North, one half of the International Gemini Observatory, supported in part by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and operated by NOIRLab. Down on the mountain at the center of the image, a snaking band of light marks the location of an access road. In the distance, large cities on the Island of Hawai‘i light up spots under the clouds while the active volcano Mauna Loa rises above them.

Just like Mauna Loa, Maunakea is a shield volcano—though thankfully a dormant one. However, the volcanic past of Maunakea continues to be an asset to astronomers. The mountain’s smoothly sloping sides and high elevation are two of the factors that contribute to the exceptional observing conditions at the summit.

The 8.1-meter diameter optical/infrared North Gemini Telescope is located on Hawaii‘s Maunakea as part of the international community of observatories built to take advantage of the superb atmospheric conditions on this long-dormant volcano that rises about 4,214 meters (13,825 feet) into the dry, stable air of the Pacific. The Gemini Observatory's international headquarters is located in Hilo, Hawai‘i at the University of Hawaii Hilo's University Park. 

Since 2002 Gemini North has also been known as the Frederick C. Gillett Gemini North telescope. Dr. Gillett, who died in April 2001, was one of the primary visionaries of the Gemini telescopes. He was instrumental in assuring that the design of Gemini's twin 8-meter telescopes would make major scientific contributions to astronomy.

Learn more about Gemini North here: https://www.gemini.edu

Image Credit: International Gemini Observatory / NOIRLab / NSF / AURA / J. Chu 
Release Date: Nov. 6, 2024

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