A Peaceful Panorama on Maunakea (Wide Shot)

This Image of the Week features Gemini North, located on Maunakea in Hawai‘i, on the left side of the panorama. Gemini North is one half of the International Gemini Observatory, supported in part by the U.S. National Science Foundation and operated by NSF NOIRLab. In the center, a pastel sunset retreats under the glowing arch of the Milky Way. Also witnessing this picturesque sky is the United Kingdom Infrared Telescope (UKIRT) on the right side. Projecting up from the horizon to ‘cut’ through the Milky Way is the zodiacal light, a faint glow caused by sunlight scattered by interplanetary dust. Try zooming in to look at the details of the landscape and the telescopes.

A cropped version of this wide shot was featured as an Image of the Week. You can also find a fulldome of this image.

This photo was taken as part of the NOIRLab 2022 Photo Expedition to all the NOIRLab sites. Petr Horálek, the photographer, is a NOIRLab Audiovisual Ambassador.