An Insider’s View
Take a peek at the inner workings of a world-class observatory in this image of the international Gemini Observatory, a program of NSF’s NOIRLab. Illuminated by the Moon outside this picture, the open structure of silver beams holding the secondary mirror (center) allows cool night air to pass freely between the mirrors. Combined with the open sides of the dome, the entire design ensures a uniform temperature matching the outside environment. Any variations of temperature create local turbulence that blurs astronomical images. Although this is a picture of the Gemini South telescope in Chile, its twin, the Gemini North telescope in Hawai’i is identical in its layout.
Credit:International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/J. Fuentes
About the Image
Id: | iotw2018a |
Type: | Photographic |
Release date: | April 29, 2020, 3 a.m. |
Size: | 4792 x 3192 px |
About the Object
Name: | Gemini South |
Category: | Gemini Observatory |
Image Formats
Large JPEG
2.0 MB
Publication TIFF 4K
13.5 MB
Publication JPEG
1.4 MB
Screensize JPEG
171.5 KB