Gemini South

Gemini South is an 8.1-metre optical and infrared telescope on Cerro Pachón in Chile, at 2,722 metres elevation.

About Gemini South

Gemini South is the southern-hemisphere counterpart to Gemini North, together forming the Gemini Observatory. It is owned by the U.S. National Science Foundation and its international partners, and it extends the observatory's reach across the southern sky.

Telescopes & research

Like its northern twin, Gemini South uses an 8.1-metre Cassegrain reflector fitted with adaptive optics and laser guide star systems to sharpen images against atmospheric blur, supporting wide-field near-infrared imaging alongside the observatory's broader research programme.

Location & getting there

The telescope sits at 2,722 metres on Cerro Pachón in Chile, part of the Andean foothills region that hosts several of the world's major observatories thanks to its dry air and clear skies. Gemini South is operated remotely from a facility in La Serena, Chile.

Visiting Gemini South

Check the observatory's official channels for current visitor access to the Cerro Pachón site before planning a trip.

See your named star from here

From the clear Andean skies above Cerro Pachón, a star named through Star Register can be located precisely using the right ascension and declination on its certificate. Name a star or search the catalogue.