11th Jul 2008
How will Gemini “see” infrared better?
Astronomers use special sensors to detect infrared radiation from space, but it’s not easy. Because heat is given off by many objects (including the telescope and cameras themselves), everything must be carefully designed, and/or cooled to very cold temperatures.
Gemini has been designed to perform especially well when observing infrared radiation. This includes selecting the locations for the telescopes. Both scopes are located on high mountains where the air is very dry. Since atmospheric water vapor absorbs, or “soaks-up”, infrared radiation, this was a very important consideration when selecting the sites for the Gemini telescopes. Gemini will also use special Silver coatings on its mirrors to reflect significantly more infrared radiation than the metals (usually aluminum) used on most other telescope mirrors.