Hilo / Hawaii / United States
The Gemini Observatory is operated by a partnership between the United States, Canada, Chile, Australia, Brazil, Argentina and the United Kingdom. The observatory provides astronomical facilities that allocate time in proportion to each country s contribution of financial, scientific and technical resources. It consists of twin eight-meter optical/infrared telescopes located on two of the best sites on the planet for universe observation. Together, the telescopes can access the entire sky. The Gemini South telescope is located on a 9,000-foot mountain in the Chilean Andes. The Frederick C. Gillett Gemini North Telescope is located on Hawaii s Mauna Kea volcano. Both of the Gemini telescopes have been designed to take advantage of the latest technology and thermal controls to excel in a wide variety of optical and infrared applications. The Gemini Observatory s international headquarters is located in Hilo, Hawaii.
