Gemini South's Laser Guide System

This photo shows Gemini South's laser guide star system in action. The laser interacts with particles in the Earth's upper atmosphere and allow for real-time corrections of the telescope's optics to compensate for atmospheric turbulence. The stars appear to blur into trails over the course of the long photographic exposure timne. Gemini South is a part of the International Gemini Observatory, a program of NSF's NOIRLab.