The 8-meter Gemini North telescope has been brought back online after seven months of repairs and repair of its main mirror. The timing could not have been much better, as the telescope had the ability to record the brand-new supernova in the famous Pinwheel Galaxy. The bright supernova was first found on May 19th, and telescopes worldwide have actually been exposing its tricks.
Gemini North, located on Mauna Kea in HawaiI, was damaged in October of 2022. The repair work and set up re-coating and repair wrapped up in May, just in time to catch the new supernova.
The Gemini North telescope on the summit of Mauna Kea (Gemini Observatory/AURA).
” The effective repair of the Gemini North mirror was a terrific synergy,” said International Gemini Observatory Director Jennifer Lotz, in a news release. “Many various groups throughout NOIRLab collaborated to resolve this tight spot. Gemini/NOIRLab thanks the mirror repair group, Safran– Reosc, the independent review board, and all the staff involved in this challenging exercise.”.
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The repair work and arranged re-coating and repair wrapped up in May, simply in time to record the brand-new supernova.
” The successful repair work of the Gemini North mirror was a terrific team effort,” stated International Gemini Observatory Director Jennifer Lotz, in a press release.
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This supernova, called SN 2023ixf is a Type II supernova. These are referred to as core-collapse supernovae because they take place when a huge star lacks aspects to fuse and its core collapses under its own weight to become a neutron star.
Astronomers strategy to make more observations with the Gemini North telescope of this supernova over the coming months, studying how the light from the supernova fades and how its spectrum progresses with time. This will help to better comprehend the physics of such explosions.
The Pinwheel Galaxy lies approximately 21 million light-years from Earth in the instructions of the constellation Ursa Major. Its stunning spiral arms make it one of the most photographed galaxies in the night sky.
Gemini North is one half of the International Gemini Observatory run by NSFs NOIRLab. Gemini South lies in the Andean Mountains in Chile.
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The timing could not have actually been better, as the telescope was able to capture the new supernova in the famous Pinwheel Galaxy. The bright supernova was very first found on May 19th, and telescopes worldwide have been revealing its secrets.