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Gemini North Demonstration Science
Galactic Center Observations
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First Science Released by Gemini North!
October, 2000 |
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The first scientific observations from the Gemini North telescope provide a dramatic
glimpse into the elusive core of the Milky Way, including an intriguing bow-shock from
a star as it plows into a poorly understood gas cloud a mere 3 light-years from the
galactic center. For more information, see the press release; for details and more images, please
scroll down.
Photo Credit: "Photo courtesy of Gemini Observatory, National Science Foundation and the University of Hawaii Adaptive Optics Group."
Full resolution images: Select here for the appropriate unmarked full resolution image:
Galactic Center | Color bow-shock | B&W bow-shock
The data were obtained over several nights in July and August as part of a
preliminary science testing period as the Gemini North telescope nears completion on
Mauna Kea in Hawaii.
Additional details:
- Images taken at H (1.65µm) and K' (2.1µm)
- Imager (QUIRC) and adaptive optics system (Hokupa'a) provided by National Science Foundation and University of Hawaii
- Pixel scale equals 0.02 arcsec/pixel
- North is up, East is to the left
- Distance to Galactic Center is 8.5 Kpc, or 27,700 light-years
- One parsec equals 24.27 arcsec on image
- Integration time per image, 10 to 15 minutes
- Field of View for Galactic Center image approximately 5 light-years across
Additional Demonstration Science Images:
Arches Cluster |
Stellar Density in the Galactic Center |
| Science Data Release
Ruth A. Kneale / web@gemini.edu / October 18, 2000
