Gemini Sites Featured in Virtual Tours

A new comprehensive set of virtual tours give special behind-the-scenes access to the science we do at the Gemini sites as well as other NOIRLab sites. 

Each Virtual Tour features panoramic images from various areas near the summit and base facilities. Users can move through these spaces and explore each facility using the locations sidebar on the left, or the NOIRLab and Google Map popup window on the right. The virtual tours are loaded with interactive elements for you to explore and learn more about technology and astronomy. In addition, you can click on the menu icon at the top right corner to reveal more options.

PC and Mac, iOS and Android phones, as well as virtual reality headsets, are all supported for these tours. While using a mobile device, make sure to enable gyroscope access for the full immersive experience.

The 360-degree panoramas were taken by talented astrophotographers during the post-pandemic NOIRLab 2022 Photo Expedition to all sites in March and April 2022 (Petr Horálek, Institute of Physics in Opava, and Tomas Slovinský). These photos were taken with a high level of care and expertise, and are best explored from within the virtual tour environment in full-screen mode.

The collection of 360-degree panorama pictures can be used for many recreational and educational purposes; alongside being imported into Virtual Reality systems, they can also be uploaded into special software for display in planetariums worldwide in resolutions up to 500 megapixels.