OTD in Space – January 18: Gemini South Observatory Dedicated
- last year
On January 18, 2002, the National Science Foundation formally opened the Gemini South telescope in Chile. [‘On This Day in Space’ Video Series on Space.com](https://www.space.com/39251-on-this-day-in-space.html)
This became the second telescope to make up the Gemini Observatory. Its twin telescope, Gemini North, is located in Hawaii. Together, these telescopes provide complete coverage of entire sky all around the Earth. The Gemini South telescope saw its first light in 1998, but it wasn't formally opened for observations until 2002. Since then, astronomers have used these telescopes to study supernovas, black holes, exoplanets and more.
This became the second telescope to make up the Gemini Observatory. Its twin telescope, Gemini North, is located in Hawaii. Together, these telescopes provide complete coverage of entire sky all around the Earth. The Gemini South telescope saw its first light in 1998, but it wasn't formally opened for observations until 2002. Since then, astronomers have used these telescopes to study supernovas, black holes, exoplanets and more.