Exploring the Universe with the Gemini North Telescope

Join Shadow the Scientists as the observing team uses the Gemini North telescope near the summit of Maunakea and conducts observations remotely from the control room at the Hilo base facility. 

Credit: International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/J. Pollard

Unlike “classical” observing nights featured in most previous StS sessions, Gemini Observatory uses queue observing mode, in which Gemini staff take observations on behalf of science teams from all over the world. On any given night, Gemini staff determine the conditions on the ground and in the sky and the scientific priorities and choose from a pool of scientific programs to observe. This means anything could be observed on any night!

For this Shadow the Scientists experience, the observing team may use the Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph (GMOS), Gemini Near Infrared Spectrograph (GNIRS), and the Immersion GRating INfrared Spectrograph 2 (IGRINS-2), giving participants a glimpse into how astronomers collect data across multiple wavelengths.

Come along for this cosmic adventure as we explore the universe and share its wonders!