- Date: 12 Dec 2016
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- Categories: For Everyone, Fun Stuff
Welcome to Gemini’s 12 Days of Solstice! This is a joyous countdown to the longest, or shortest (depending on which hemisphere you live in) day of the year! Visit our blog each day from December 10 – December 21 for Gemini-themed crafts, cartoons, playlists, videos and much, much more.
Day 3: Gemini’s Greatest Hits
Astronomers from around the world are using the world-class facilities that Gemini provides. For years, our astronomical data has been instrumental in a wide range of discoveries and we are proud to report 2016 has been no exception. For today’s 12 Days of Solstice, we’ve complied a list of some of our most popular science highlights from 2016 with data taken by the Gemini Observatory. Enjoy!
For a complete list of Gemini Science Highlights, check out our Press Release Page.
Nearby Exo-Earth Family Withstands Extreme Scrutiny
The discovery of three Earth-sized planets likely orbiting a low-mass star is looking like the real thing.
Artist’s concept of what the view might be like from inside the TRAPPIST-1 exoplanetary system showing three Earth-sized planets in orbit around the low-mass star.
Gemini Images Galaxy That Is 99.99 Percent Dark Matter
Using the world’s most powerful telescopes, an international team of astronomers has discovered a massive galaxy that consists almost entirely of Dark Matter.
The galaxy Dragonfly 44 that is 99.99 percent dark matter.
Gemini Observatory Instrumental in Exoplanet Harvest
Gemini Observatory plays a key role in the latest harvest of over 100 confirmed exoplanets from NASA’s K2 mission, the repurposed Kepler spacecraft.
Image montage showing the Maunakea Observatories, Kepler Space Telescope, and night sky with K2 Fields and discovered planetary systems (dots) overlaid.
Lonely Black Hole Relic Shines Light on Young Universe
Astronomers using the 8-meter Gemini North telescope on Hawaii’s Maunakea have probed an enigmatic, and unexpected, supermassive black hole dominating the core of a large galaxy in the cosmic backwaters.
Don’t forget to check back tomorrow for the next installment of Gemini’s 12 Days of Solstice countdown!
