Gemini North’s Volatile Neighbor

The starry band of the Milky Way hangs overhead in this panorama taken from Maunakea, the home of Gemini North, one half of the International Gemini Observatory, supported in part by the U.S. National Science Foundation and operated by NSF NOIRLab. Down on the mountain at the center of the image, a snaking band of light marks the location of an access road. In the distance, the large cities on the Island of Hawai‘i light up spots under the clouds while the active volcano Mauna Loa rises above them.

Just like Mauna Loa, Maunakea is a shield volcano — though thankfully a dormant one. However, the volcanic past of Maunakea continues to be an asset to astronomers. The mountain’s smoothly sloping sides and high elevation are two of the factors that contribute to the exceptional observing conditions at the summit.