Shortly after the sister telescope in Chile, also the Gemini telescope in the northern hemisphere got their (first) TOPTICA SodiumStar. Led by Jeff, who had attended the installation in Chile, the installation took place in a lab inside the telescope building atop 4200 m Maunakea. Driving up there every day with the day crew from Hilo and working at this high altitude was an impressive demonstration of the tough work these guys are doing every day. Due to necessary modifications of the telescope, transfer of the laser to the telescope itself took a few months longer.
Thanks to the team at Gemini for their great work and hospitality. We were very lucky to get to see some of the most amazing snorkelling spots at Kapoho tide pools and poke the lava flow with wooden sticks just a few months before the devastating Kilauea eruption in 2018. Looking forward to coming back for more lasers for GNAO!
Credit: Jeff Donahue, Gemini Observatory
