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 5: The Observer’s Playlist

For today’s entry, we asked our Science Operations Specialists (SOSs), the folks at Gemini who operate the telescopes and take astronomical observations for some users, to share their favorite observing songs. Our SOSs work all night long, and they have learned that listening to their favorite tunes is an excellent way to chase off the z’s. We hope you enjoy our playlist, whether you are observing at Gemini, studying for exams, holiday shopping, cooking for the family, hitting the gym or simply enjoying some stargazing from home!

Don’t forget to check back tomorrow for the next installment of Gemini’s 12 Days of Solstice countdown!

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 4: A Virtual Tour

Image Credit: Joy Pollard

Ever wanted to travel inside the dome of one of the world’s largest telescopes? Well now you can! For today’s entry we gift you the chance to test drive our prototype of the Gemini North Virtual Tour. Simply click on the link below to explore the hidden wonders. Thanks to Gemini Observatory’s Graphic Designer, Joy Pollard for creating this masterpiece.

Click for a Virtual Tour of Gemini North

For an even more immersive experience, view this tour on your tablet.

Don’t forget to check back tomorrow for the next installment of Gemini’s 12 Days of Solstice countdown!

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!

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 2: A Different type of Hawaiian Poke

If you’ve visited the Big Island where Gemini North is located, you’ve probably tasted the local specialty called poke. It’s a tasty raw fish salad served cold. But there’s now a different kind of poke on the Island – Pokémon! (Those cute, mostly cuddly creatures who can be collected and battled in the world of Pokémon Go). For today’s solstice calendar entry we’re highlighting the Pokéstops at the Hilo airport. PokeStops are places in the augmented reality game Pokémon Go where a player can check in and collect items of value in the game. If you check in at the Maunakea mural in the Hilo airport, you’ll see one of the telescopes on the summit. It just happens to be Gemini North dome! So next time you’re in town, check in and wave hello to the Gemini North dome.  Thanks to Gemini’s Director Markus Kissler-Patig for spotting this one.

Pokestop at the Hilo Airport – image Credit: Markus Kissler-Patig.

Don’t forget to check back tomorrow for the next installment of Gemini’s 12 Days of Solstice countdown!

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 1: The Reason for the Season(s)

Greetings from wintery Gemini North on Maunakea of the Big Island of Hawai‘i with snow, clouds, closed roads and frigid temperatures…

… and greetings from summery Gemini South on Cerro Pachón in Chile, with clear skies, easy driving and “balmy” temperatures.

What’s the Reason for the Season(s)?

Seasons occur because our planet does not rotate “standing” straight up and down. As pictured in our “12 Days of Solstice” logo, Earth rotates on an axis (white line) that is tilted 23.5° off of a line that is perpendicular to our orbit (red line).

As the Earth orbits the sun, our axis remains fixed in space, thus the northern hemisphere (above the purple equator line) and the southern hemisphere (below the purple equator line) switch off being angled toward, or away, from the Sun. This angle is what dictates how much direct sunlight each hemisphere receives.

Direct sunlight is light that shines on a surface at close to a right angle. At this angle, the most light strikes the Earth’s surface and the surface warms. Whichever hemisphere is angled toward the Sun receives more direct sunlight and experiences summer, while the opposite hemisphere experiences winter.  That is why the southern hemisphere is enjoying summer and the northern hemisphere is in the midst of winter (as is demonstrated by the weather on Maunakea now!).

A common misconception is that the cause of our seasons is our changing distance from the Sun. This is incorrect! It is true that Earth’s orbit about the Sun is not circular; the true shape is an ellipse. However, the Earth’s closest approach to the Sun, our perihelion distance, occurs when the northern hemisphere is experiencing winter – January to be exact!

Next time someone asks about the reason for the seasons, remember that it’s the tilt of our planet’s axis which causes differing amounts of direct sunlight! Thank you axis, couldn’t have done it without you 😉

Don’t forget to check back tomorrow for the next installment of Gemini’s 12 Days of Solstice countdown!