Celebrating 25 Years of Discovery with Gemini Observatory

4 April 2025

In celebration of 25 years since first light observations with the International Gemini Observatory, students in Hawaiʻi and Chile have a unique opportunity to participate in an exciting imaging contest!

To kick off the contest, students are invited to vote on the astronomical object that will be imaged by the Gemini South telescope on Cerro Pachón in Chile or the Gemini North telescope located near the summit of Maunakea in Hawaiʻi. To help students make an informed choice, educators will be provided with resources about different types of celestial objects including a slide deck, lesson plans, and educational resources.

In both Hawaiʻi and Chile students will have the opportunity to engage with the observation process via activities such as internships or visits to the Base Facility Control Room. In Chile students will be able to participate in a short essay contest and the most creative essay will win a visit to the Gemini South La Serena Base Facility for their class. After students across Hawaiʻi have selected which type of object will be imaged by the Gemini North telescope, interns working with the Project Hōkūlani program will determine the final details of the imaging process and give the image a title and description in both ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi and English. 

Examples of previous images taken by the Gemini telescopes can be found here.

Stay tuned for more details about this exciting opportunity to engage your students in astronomy, celebrate Gemini’s legacy, and inspire the next generation of STEAM explorers.

Poll for Gemini North: Click Here 

Poll for Gemini South: Click Here

Contacts

Emily Peavy
Education & Engagement Senior Assistant
NSF NOIRLab
Email: emily.peavy@noirlab.edu