Catching Light Day & Night | Gemini South Telescope in Chile

Catching Light Day & Night | Gemini South Telescope in Chile

Optical telescopes use mirrors to capture as much light as possible from the night sky. The larger the mirror, the more light it can collect and the more distant, dim, and detailed targets the telescope can resolve. Gemini South is no exception. Perched on the mountain of Cerro Pachón in Chile, Gemini South is one half of the International Gemini Observatory, supported in part by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and operated by NSF NOIRLab.

The starry sky keeps Gemini busy throughout the night, but the light collection does not stop at sunrise. Gemini South is surrounded by an array of 668 solar panels. These panels collect enough energy from the sunlight to cover 28% of the power required to operate Gemini South. Solar panels at telescopes operated by NSF NOIRLab and other upgrades are part of a wider observatory plan to improve the efficient use of energy across all NOIRLab locations.

Petr Horálek, the photographer, is a NOIRLab Audiovisual Ambassador.

Credit: International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/P. Horálek (Institute of Physics in Opava)
Release Date: Jan. 7, 2026

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