This image features the Gemini North telescope during laser guide star operations (LGS). This time lapse image consists of roughly 40 images edited together to create a star trails image, with an attenuation on the earlier images, which makes the earlier images appear to fade out. Shot near the summit of Maunakea, the glow of nearby Waimea can clearly be seen reflected in the low cloud cover. Also prominently featured in the image are the new photovoltaic (PV) panels that have been installed at all of the Gemini Observatory facilities.

This long-duration fish-eye view of the Gemini North telescope facility shows the propagation of the laser guide star (LGS) laser on the night of May 21, 2010. Featuring the sky over Mauna Kea (looking north), the glow of both dusk and dawn, as well as star trails, fill the sky and provide a backdrop for the orange glow of the Gemini LGS laser as it tracks through the sky. The LGS laser from the W.M. Keck Observatory and the peak of Haleakalā on Maui can be seen on close examination of the image. The bright streak on the left is the setting moon.

Here is a recent image taken of the Gemini North Observatory on Mauna Kea while propagating the Adaptive Optics Laser Guide Star into the heart of the Big Dipper.

Nighttime image of the Gemini North Observatory, on the summit of Maunakea, during a Laser Guide Star (LGS) run, taken from the catwalk outside of the UH 2.2 meter telescope. LGS creates an “artificial star” which is used as a reference source for adaptive optics systems on Gemini instruments. The Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT) is visible behind Gemini. This image was taken in preparation for two time-lapse movies which were recorded the following evening.

Here is a "fish eye" image of the Gemini North observatory during a Laser Guide Star (LGS) run, taken from the catwalk around the outside of the UH 2.2 meter telescope. LGS creates an “artificial star” which is used as a reference source for adaptive optics systems on Gemini instruments. Directly behind the Gemini Observatory is the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope; continuing counter clockwise is the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility, the double domes of the W. M. Keck Observatory, followed by the Subaru Telescope.

The beautiful star-filled Mauna Kea sky with the moon seen through the vent gates. The primary mirror (M1) reflects the interior of the dome. High resolution (up to 4k x 4k) time-lapse frames are available from Gemini Observatory for use in planetarium programs. For details please contact: Peter Michaud.

In this fisheye image, Gemini North is visible in moon light as it uses the Laser Guide Star system.

Full Resolution TIF (28.1 MB)

Medium Resolution JPG (1.1 MB) 

A 180-degree fisheye view of the Gemini North telescope on Mauna Kea, Hawai‘i lit by moonlight and the red glow of a passing automobile’s taillights shining through the wind-vent gates. At the top of the 7-story high telescope structure the laser guide star (LGS) can be seen propagating into the sky where it creates an artificial star used by an adaptive optics system to correct for distortions caused by turbulence in the Earth’s atmosphere.

High resolution (up to 4k x 4k) time-lapse frames are available from Gemini Observatory for use in planetarium programs. For details please contact: Kirk Pu'uohau-Pummill Full Resolution TIF (31.7 MB) Medium Resolution JPG (224 KB) Gemini Observatory Image/Video Usage Policy