One Half of a Whole

Pictured here is Gemini South, sitting on the summit of Cerro Pachón in Chile. It is the southern member of the pair of 8.1-meter telescopes, which together comprise the international Gemini Observatory, a Program of NSF's NOIRLab. Gemini North saw its first light in 1999, and — appropriately for twin telescopes — Gemini South followed quickly behind with its first light in 2000. Since then, the united Gemini twins have provided a wealth of scientific observations. In this image, Gemini South is framed by the spectacular Milky Way, which — thanks to the photographic technique used — appears as a celestial arch, curving across the sky.