A Peaceful Panorama on Maunakea (Fulldome)

This Image of the Week features Gemini North, located on Maunakea in Hawai‘i (bottom, 7 o’ clock). 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 top at 1 o’ clock. 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. 

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

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.