US National Gemini Office

Gemini daily update

Queue programs observed at Gemini Observatory N/S on 02/28/26 (http://bit.ly/2KhLox3) #astronomy:

Gemini daily update

Queue programs observed at Gemini Observatory N/S on 02/27/26 (http://bit.ly/2KhLox3) #astronomy:

Gemini daily update

Queue programs observed at Gemini Observatory N/S on 02/26/26 (http://bit.ly/2KhLox3) #astronomy:

An infrared image of the Chamaeleon Infrared Nebula, where a vibrant, wing-shaped cloud of orange and white gas streaks diagonally across a deep blue and black background. At the center of the “wing” is a bright, glowing point of light - a young star- emitting a faint, narrow reddish jet. The surrounding space is filled with wispy blue nebular clouds and scattered, bright stars, including one prominent white star with a pinkish glow on the right side of the frame.

This week’s image is of the Chamaeleon Infrared Nebula! Gemini South’s GMOS captured this stunning image of the nebula, which has allowed astronomers the opportunity to study the circumstellar disk of gas and dust orbiting the central star.

Check out the 🧵 for more papers!

#Astronomy

Two side-by-side comparison images of the Carina Nebula illustrate the impact of adaptive optics on astronomical imaging. Top image (Adaptive Optics): The nebula appears sharp and high-resolution. The craggy, pillar-like structures of gas and dust show intricate textures and fine, wispy details. The surrounding stars are tiny, crisp points of light. Bottom image (No Adaptive Optics): The same scene appears blurry and out of focus. The detailed features of the nebula are soft and smudged, and the stars appear as larger, glowing orbs rather than sharp points.

Throwback post: This week’s image is of the western wall of the Carina Nebula observed with Gemini-S GSAOI (top) and the Víctor M. Blanco 4-meter Telescope (bottom). This comparison demonstrates the incredible resolution attainable with adaptive optics. 🧵

#Astronomy

Credit:
International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA
Acknowledgments: Image processing: T.A. Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage/NSF NOIRLab), J. Miller (Gemini Observatory/NSF NOIRLab), M. Zamani (NSF NOIRLab) & D. de Martin (NSF NOIRLab)

A plot containing 4 different views of a spectral energy distribution (SED) for the star-forming dwarf galaxy PSO J175312.663+005122.078. The large plot on the left is a view of the SED between wavelengths ~4,800 - 8,300 Angstroms, with an inlet plot showing the SED between 4,000 and 23,000 Angstroms. To the right of these plots are two additional windows of the SED stacked on top of each other. The plot on top shows 6,500 - 6,750 angstroms, and the plot on the bottom shows 4,825 - 5,075 Angstroms. Each plot shows the DEIMOS spectrum in black and the fitted Prospector SED in orange. Each spectrum appears noisy with several peaks and dips visible corresponding to emission lines such as [N II], H-alpha, and [O III].

SN 2020jgb: A Peculiar Type Ia Supernova Triggered by a Helium-shell Detonation in a Star-forming Galaxy, by C. Liu et al. 2023

ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2023ApJ....

15 near-ir images of 15 PASSAGES objects modeled in this paper arranged in three rows of four images and one row of three images at the bottom. Nine of the panels are RGB images made with Gemini-S r’ and z’ filters and the HST H band and the remaining six images are displayed in greyscale only showing the HST H band filter. Each panel contains a white bar at the top of the image, next to the source’s name, which represents 2”. Each image shows a bright cluster galaxy and a background galaxy that is being gravitationally lensed, so it appears elongated. In some images, an Einstein ring is formed due to the lensing.

PASSAGES: The Wide-ranging, Extreme Intrinsic Properties of Planck-selected, Lensed Dusty Star-forming Galaxies, by P. S. Kamieneski et al. 2024

ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2024ApJ....

An infrared image of the Chamaeleon Infrared Nebula, where a vibrant, wing-shaped cloud of orange and white gas streaks diagonally across a deep blue and black background. At the center of the “wing” is a bright, glowing point of light - a young star- emitting a faint, narrow reddish jet. The surrounding space is filled with wispy blue nebular clouds and scattered, bright stars, including one prominent white star with a pinkish glow on the right side of the frame.

This week’s image is of the Chamaeleon Infrared Nebula! Gemini South’s GMOS captured this stunning image of the nebula, which has allowed astronomers the opportunity to study the circumstellar disk of gas and dust orbiting the central star.

Check out the 🧵 for more papers!

#Astronomy

Gemini daily update

Queue programs observed at Gemini Observatory N/S on 02/25/26 (http://bit.ly/2KhLox3) #astronomy:

From @noirlabastro.bsky.social: When the rising Sun decides to get a little… weird.

This serendipitous shot of the rising Sun from Maunakea combines several natural light effects, rendering our closest star almost unrecognizable. #astronomy

Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/M. Rodriguez

Two side-by-side comparison images of the Carina Nebula illustrate the impact of adaptive optics on astronomical imaging. Top image (Adaptive Optics): The nebula appears sharp and high-resolution. The craggy, pillar-like structures of gas and dust show intricate textures and fine, wispy details. The surrounding stars are tiny, crisp points of light. Bottom image (No Adaptive Optics): The same scene appears blurry and out of focus. The detailed features of the nebula are soft and smudged, and the stars appear as larger, glowing orbs rather than sharp points.

Throwback post: This week’s image is of the western wall of the Carina Nebula observed with Gemini-S GSAOI (top) and the Víctor M. Blanco 4-meter Telescope (bottom). This comparison demonstrates the incredible resolution attainable with adaptive optics. 🧵

#Astronomy

Gemini daily update

Queue programs observed at Gemini Observatory N/S on 02/24/26 (http://bit.ly/2KhLox3) #astronomy:

Gemini weekly footprint

Science observations @GeminiObs from 2026-02-19 to 2026-02-25: #astronomy

From @noirlabastro.bsky.social: When the rising Sun decides to get a little… weird.

This serendipitous shot of the rising Sun from Maunakea combines several natural light effects, rendering our closest star almost unrecognizable. #astronomy

Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/M. Rodriguez

📣Update: Observations at the Gemini Observatory during March-May 2026 may now be proposed as part of this month's Fast Turnaround (FT) Program. Deadline: 12:00 pm (NOON), Hawaiian Standard Time (HST), February 28. More info gemini.edu/observing/ph... #astronomy @aura-astronomy.bsky.social

Gemini daily update

Queue programs observed at Gemini Observatory N/S on 02/23/26 (http://bit.ly/2KhLox3) #astronomy:

Gemini daily update

Queue programs observed at Gemini Observatory N/S on 02/22/26 (http://bit.ly/2KhLox3) #astronomy:

📣Update: Observations at the Gemini Observatory during March-May 2026 may now be proposed as part of this month's Fast Turnaround (FT) Program. Deadline: 12:00 pm (NOON), Hawaiian Standard Time (HST), February 28. More info gemini.edu/observing/ph... #astronomy @aura-astronomy.bsky.social

Gemini daily update

Queue programs observed at Gemini Observatory N/S on 02/21/26 (http://bit.ly/2KhLox3) #astronomy:

A high-resolution image of the planetary nebula IC 5148. The nebula is a vibrant, glowing sphere, predominantly electric blue and pale turquoise. At its center is a tiny, bright white light, which is the progenitor star. The nebula is surrounded by a wispy outer halo of darker blue gas, and the entire nebula lies in front of a background of distant stars and galaxies.

This week’s image is of IC 5148! Gemini South’s GMOS was used to observe this planetary nebula, whose cloud of gas is expanding outwards at a speed of 180,000 km/hr! Check out the 🧵 for more papers involving GMOS data!

#Astronomy

Gemini daily update

Queue programs observed at Gemini Observatory N/S on 02/19/26 (http://bit.ly/2KhLox3) #astronomy:

Credit (1/2):
International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA

Image processing: T.A. Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage/NSF’s NOIRLab), J. Miller (Gemini Observatory/NSF’s NOIRLab), M. Rodriguez (Gemini Observatory/NSF’s NOIRLab), & M. Zamani (NSF’s NOIRLab)

The image contains several emission line spectra for two B12-143 and B12-115. The image is organized into two columns, with the first three rows in each column containing spectra, and the final row showing velocity vs normalized flux. Top three rows: These rows show individual emission lines. The y-axis is Flux (units not labeled) and the x-axis is in wavelengths (units not labeled). Row 1 shows the [O I] line, Row 2 shows the H-alpha + [N II] complex, and Row 3 shows the [S II] doublet. Bottom row: This row contains stacked line profiles for each object. The y-axis is normalized flux, and the x-axis is velocity from line center in km/s, ranging from -400 to 400 km/s.

High-resolution Spectra of Supernova Remnants in M83, by P. Frank Winkler et al. 2023

ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2023ApJ....

Three stacked plots displaying the spectral energy distribution and detailed spectrum of a massive quiescent member galaxy of SPT-CL J2335-4544. Top panel: A broad-band spectral energy distribution where the y-axis represents flux density measured in maggies from 1e-10 to 1e-8 on a logarithmic scale and the x-axis represents observed wavelength in Angstroms from 4,000 to 10,000. The jagged blue line represents the observed spectrum, overlaid with a smooth dark blue best-fit model. There are dark red circles along the model that represent observed photometry points for the g, r, i, and z bands. Middle plot: A plot that displays the residual chi values for the spectrum and photometry. The y-axis represents chi (statistical deviation) from -5 to 5, and the x-axis represents observed wavelength in the same units and range as the top panel. Bottom panel: A detailed zoom-in of the spectrum. The y-axis here represents the relative flux on a logarithmic scale, and the x-axis still represents observed wavelength in Angstroms, except this time the range is from 5,700 to 6,400 to highlight some of the absorption lines such as CaK, CaH, and H-delta.

Synthesizing Stellar Populations in South Pole Telescope Galaxy Clusters. I. Ages of Quiescent Member Galaxies at 0.3 < z < 1.4, by Gourav Khullar et al. 2022

ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2022ApJ....

A high-resolution image of the planetary nebula IC 5148. The nebula is a vibrant, glowing sphere, predominantly electric blue and pale turquoise. At its center is a tiny, bright white light, which is the progenitor star. The nebula is surrounded by a wispy outer halo of darker blue gas, and the entire nebula lies in front of a background of distant stars and galaxies.

This week’s image is of IC 5148! Gemini South’s GMOS was used to observe this planetary nebula, whose cloud of gas is expanding outwards at a speed of 180,000 km/hr! Check out the 🧵 for more papers involving GMOS data!

#Astronomy

This word cloud was created using the titles and abstracts from 2194 US Gemini proposals submitted since the 2022A semester. Can you find your favorite topic there? Let us know! #astronomy @aura-astronomy.bsky.social

This image contains a collage featuring an artist’s rendition of the Kepler Space Telescope and two scatter plots related to exoplanet research. Left panel: A digital illustration of the Kepler Space Telescope against the backdrop of the Milky Way. The telescope is cylindrical, with gold-foil insulation and solar panels. Right panel: Two stacked scatter plots displaying data related to stars and their orbiting planets. The top plot shows information about stars, with stellar radius in units of solar radii on the y-axis and effective temperature in Kelvin ranging from 80,000K to 2,000 on the x-axis. The bottom plot shows data for exoplanets, with planet radius in Earth radii on the y-axis and orbital period in days on the x-axis. The plot of the exoplanet data is on a log scale, while the plot of the stars is on a linear scale.

Throwback post: 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗞𝟮. 𝗩. 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝟲𝟬 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗘𝘅𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘀 ... by J. L. Christiansen et al. using
Gemini, WIYN, SOAR, Keck, McDonald, and more!
ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2022AJ.....

#Astronomy

Gemini daily update

Queue programs observed at Gemini Observatory N/S on 02/18/26 (http://bit.ly/2KhLox3) #astronomy:

This word cloud was created using the titles and abstracts from 2194 US Gemini proposals submitted since the 2022A semester. Can you find your favorite topic there? Let us know! #astronomy @aura-astronomy.bsky.social