The Isolation of Gemini South

From a dizzying height, the full scale and remoteness of the Gemini South telescope, one half of the International Gemini Observatory, operated by NSF's NOIRLab, can be realized. Located on the mountain Cerro Pachón at 2715 meters (8900 feet) above sea level, Gemini South benefits from the stable conditions of the local atmosphere. The dry air that eases the ‘seeing’ for the telescope is almost palpable above the sprawling Chilean Andes in the background. This image also captures the 8-meter mirror of the telescope peeking through the dome structure, an unusual event for the daylight hours, and the solar panels (bottom right), which power the telescope during the nocturnal observations of the southern skies.

This aerial photo was taken as part of the recent NOIRLab 2022 Photo Expedition to all the NOIRLab sites.