NOIRLab Science

Not just watching the sky — sometimes the volcano too 🌋🔭 A @GeminiOBs North CloudCam captured the 2026 eruption of Kīlauea, showing plumes and lingering heat from the event.

Not-So-Quiet Night at NSF–DOE @VRubinObs 🤫❌ This image was captured during Rubin’s First Look observing run in April 2025. Staff bustled with excitement as the Simonyi Survey Telescope points to the sky! 📸: NSF–DOE @VRubinObs/NOIRLab/SLAC/NSF/DOE/AURA/P. Horálek

Curious what it’s like at Cerro Pachón? ⛰️🔭 In this video, you can see the @Geminiobs South Telescope and the SOAR Telescope, both operated by NSF NOIRLab, surrounded by the vast mountains of northern Chile. 📹NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/T. Matsopoulos

Planning your next @GeminiObs proposal? 🔭 Got everything you need for Phase I? Check the guidelines, resources, and details here: gemini.edu/observing/phas…

A step toward the Rubin era 🔭 @NOIRLabastro demonstrates rapid follow-up of alerts from the NSF-DOE @VRubinObs — paving the way for real-time discovery of the dynamic Universe. noirlab.edu/public/news/no…

GHOST @GeminiObs South is temporarily unavailable. We’re working on it — and it should be back for science soon. 🔧🔭 More info: gemini.edu/news/instrumen…

Happy Pi day! The twin Gemini telescope mirrors have diameters of 8.1 meters. Using A = π x radius^2 and subtracting the central hole, you can calculate a surface area of about 50.4 square meters. #PiDay 📷: International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/AURA/NSF/M. Paredes

🚨 The @GeminiObs Large & Long Program 2026B call is now open! LLPs support PI-driven programs that are Large, Long, or both. 🗓 Deadline: 31 Mar 2026. Letters of Intent are no longer required—proposals are still welcome. 🔭 Up to 20% of telescope time allocated to LLPs.

📢 Fast Turnaround proposals are open at the NSF-funded @GeminiObs — submit by 31 Mar 2026 (12 p.m. HST) for observations on Gemini North & South (May–July 2026). 🔭 Details-gemini.edu/observing/phas…

💎 “Once in a Rubin Gem” is making strides at NSF's @GeminiObs — dedicating 120 hours of Director’s Discretionary Time for rapid follow-up of the most surprising alerts from @VRubinObs, with observations triggered within ~24 hours. 🔭 Details- noirlab.edu/science/news/a…

🚨🔭 First Rubin alerts… followed up by @NOIRLabastro! For the first time, NSF NOIRLab has successfully demonstrated its end-to-end system for rapid follow-up observations triggered by alerts from the NSF–DOE @VRubinObs. Read more: noirlab.edu/public/es/news…

📣 The Jan. 2026 issue of NSF's @NOIRLabAstro Mirror is out! Discover the latest science, engineering highlights, and milestones from across NSF NOIRLab facilities and programs. 🔭 Read more: noirlab.edu/public/announc…

Details-noirlab.edu/public/educati…

Explore the sky with the 88 Constellations Project with NSF's @NOIRLabAstro telescope- a free collection of high-resolution images of all 88 IAU constellations plus the largest open-source all-sky photo of the night sky, with educational resources for classrooms and planetariums.

NSF-funded @NOIRLabAstro GMOS-N photometric monitoring pipeline is back and is tracking zero points across filters-improving calibration accuracy ✨ Details- noirlab.edu/science/news/a…

How should NSF's @NOIRLabAstro support studies of galaxies and their environments in the coming decades? Join the Galaxy Evolution listening session and share your perspective. Inclusive to all. Register for zoom link. 📅 Mar 11|⏰12:00PM MST 🔗noirlab.edu/science/news/a…

🌕 A total lunar eclipse rises above @NOIRLabAstro @KittPeakNatObs in this stunning Image— a beautiful reminder of the dynamic sky above one of the world’s premier observing sites. 🔭✨

Today, the NSF Nicholas U. Mayall 4-meter Telescope hosts the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI), the most powerful multi-object survey spectrograph in the world. We’re throwing it back this Thursday to moments from the Mayall’s rich history at NSF @KittPeakNatObs.

Figure credit: Rom et al. 2026, A&A, 706, A58, inset shows J-band GSAOI image of Trumpler 14

Astronomers used deep NSF-funded @GeminiObs GSAOI data to probe the sub-stellar mass function of Trumpler 14, showcasing the angular resolution achievable with Gemini🌟🔭Details- aanda.org/articles/aa/fu…