Phoenix On Gemini

Ken Hinkle, Phoenix instrument scientist working with the instrument on the Gemini South telescope at Cerro Pachón, Chile. Phoenix is mounted on the Gemini Cassegrain instrument rotator.

Currently unique among the 8- and 10-meter class telescopes, Gemini provides a high-resolution near-infrared spectroscopic capability through the NOAO Phoenix spectrometer on Gemini South (above). Phoenix provides spectral resolutions of 50,000 to 75,000 through 0.34'' to 0.17'' slits at wavelengths from 1 to 5 microns. These capabilities make Gemini an extremely powerful tool for studying the regions around forming stars of all sizes.