#'Alopeke
LightNews LightNews
usngo.bsky.social
Here is a summary of observations from both Gemini telescopes in September 2026, divided by instrument and color-coded by location. Gemini's ALOPEKE took the most observations last month, totaling over 2,000!

#Astronomy
October 1, 2026 at 6:04 PM
robertscotthorton.bsky.social
Astronomers have discovered a companion star in an incredibly tight orbit around Betelgeuse using the NASA and U.S. National Science Foundation-funded ‘Alopeke instrument on Gemini North, one half of the International Gemini Observatory. Betelgeuse is one of the brightest stars in the night sky.
Gemini North Discovers Long-Predicted Stellar Companion of Betelgeuse - Gemini North telescope in Hawai‘i reveals never-before-seen companion to Betelgeuse, solving millennia-old mystery
Astronomers have discovered a companion star in an incredibly tight orbit around Betelgeuse using the NASA and U.S. National Science Foundation-funded ‘Alopeke instrument on Gemini North, one half of ...
noirlab.edu
July 22, 2025 at 3:57 AM
usngo.bsky.social
Here is a summary of observations from both
Gemini telescopes in August 2025, divided by instrument and color-coded by location. Gemini's Alopeke took the most observations this month, totaling over 3,600!

#Astronomy
September 2, 2025 at 6:15 PM
usngo.bsky.social
Here is a summary of observations from both Gemini telescopes in July 2026, divided by instrument and color-coded by location. Gemini's Alopeke 🦊 took the most observations last month, totaling over 5,000!

#Astronomy
August 10, 2026 at 9:03 PM
usngo.bsky.social
This week’s images are of Gemini’s ‘Alopeke (left) and Zorro (right)🦊. These speckle-imaging powerhouses have made their mark within the literature with their astounding ability to resolve stars through the Earth’s atmosphere. Check out the 🧵!

#Astronomy
📸 credits in thread
Two images of 'Alopeke on Gemini North. The image on the left shows someone working on the instrument while it is on the telescope. The image on the right shows the instrument fully mounted on the telescope. Gemini South engineers are setting up the Zorro instrument on Gemini South.
December 5, 2025 at 7:00 PM
usngo.bsky.social
Here is a summary of observations from both @GeminiObs telescopes in June 2025, divided by instrument and color-coded by location. Gemini's ALOPEKE 🦊 took the most observations this month, totaling over 2,000!

#Astronomy
July 8, 2025 at 7:00 PM
todlauer.bsky.social
Betelgeuse has a companion - a pre main-sequence B/A star with a semimajor axis of only 8 au. Required speckle observations to dig it out. noirlab.edu/public/news/...
Gemini North Discovers Long-Predicted Stellar Companion of Betelgeuse - Gemini North telescope in Hawai‘i reveals never-before-seen companion to Betelgeuse, solving millennia-old mystery
Astronomers have discovered a companion star in an incredibly tight orbit around Betelgeuse using the NASA and U.S. National Science Foundation-funded ‘Alopeke instrument on Gemini North, one half of ...
noirlab.edu
July 21, 2025 at 6:22 PM
coreyspowell.bsky.social
The giant star Betelgeuse appears to have a secret companion. We missed it before because it's only a little bigger than our Sun.

And it's going fast: The companion star is likely to spiral in and be destroyed in about 10,000 years. 🧪🔭

noirlab.edu/public/news/...
Using the NASA-NSF-funded ‘Alopeke instrument on the Gemini North telescope, one half of the International Gemini Observatory, partly funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and operated by NSF NOIRLab, astronomers have discovered a companion star in an incredibly tight orbit around Betelgeuse. This discovery answers the millennia-old question of why this famous star experiences a roughly six-year-long periodic change in its brightness, and provides insight into the physical mechanisms behind other variable red supergiants. The companion star appears blue here because, based on the team’s analysis, it is likely an A- or B-type star, both of which are blue-white due to their high temperatures.
August 30, 2025 at 4:58 PM
canis55lupus.bsky.social
Alopeké, do češtiny by se to dalo přeložit jako Vystrkov nebo Zapadákov, doslova místo, kde lišky dávají dobrou noc (alópéks = starořecky liška), byla čtvrť za hradbami antických Athén. Jejím nejslavnějším rodákem a obyvatelem byl syn kameníka Sófroniska a porodní báby Fainarété jménem Sókratés.
March 14, 2026 at 9:11 PM
usngo.bsky.social
From @noirlabastro.bsky.social: Astronomers using
Gemini North found a hidden companion star orbiting inside Betelgeuse’s atmosphere, the first close-in companion ever seen around a supergiant star.
🔗 noirlab.edu/public/news/...
📷GeminiObs/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA #astronomy
Gemini North Discovers Long-Predicted Stellar Companion of Betelgeuse - Gemini North telescope in Hawai‘i reveals never-before-seen companion to Betelgeuse, solving millennia-old mystery
Astronomers have discovered a companion star in an incredibly tight orbit around Betelgeuse using the NASA and U.S. National Science Foundation-funded ‘Alopeke instrument on Gemini North, one half of ...
noirlab.edu
July 21, 2025 at 8:26 PM
drnereide.bsky.social
2/
A research team, led by Steve Howell (NASA Ames Research Center), used the ’Alopeke speckle imager on Gemini North to observe Betelgeuse with unprecedented precision.

In Dec. 2024, three days after the predicted time of maximum angular separation, a star ~6 magnitudes fainter was detected,
July 24, 2025 at 2:16 PM
usngo.bsky.social
Throwback post: 𝗔 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗸𝗹𝗲-𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗪𝗼𝗹𝗳-𝗥𝗮𝘆𝗲𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘀 by Shara et al. ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2022MNRA... using `Alopeke Gemini North 🦊

#Astronomy
The image shows side-by-side reconstructed speckle images of the WN5o + O6III-V Wolf-Rayet star WR 139 taken with the ‘Alopeke speckle camera at Gemini North. Left image: labeled ‘466 nm’, the image shows a central, bright point source with a small, asymmetric greenish-yellow flare to its left, set against a noisy blue background. Right image: labeled ‘716 nm’, the image shows a similar central point source, but the surrounding noise pattern is more structured and pixelated compared to the 466 nm view. Both images include a horizontal scale bar labeled 1” (one arcsecond), indicating the angular scale of the observation. The overall visualization uses a “false color” heat map where blue represents low intensity and red/yellow represents high intensity.
March 18, 2026 at 9:00 PM
usngo.bsky.social
A week in the life of Gemini North! 🔭 Check out some of the gorgeous targets we pointed at between 09-27-2026 and 10-04-2026. #Astronomy
A 3x3 grid of nine images captured by the Gemini North telescope between September 27 and October 4, 2026. A legend at the top indicates the only instrument used is ALOPEKE. The grid showcases various deep-space targets against black, star-filled backgrounds. Most of the panels feature a brilliantly bright, central star or object with a dark, saturated artifact at its core, surrounded by glowing, colorful halos in shades of blue, white, green, and orange. Each of the nine panels is labeled "ALOPEKE" in yellow text in the bottom-left corner.
October 5, 2026 at 5:03 PM
astrolaura.com
OK, so what are we gonna name Betelgeuse's new friend? It's fun that astronomers found that Betelgeuse has a little buddy, but Betelgeuse A and Betelgeuse B just doesn’t roll off the tongue... anyone have ideas? 🧪🔭 share.google/idDc5XW1eIXJ...
It's official. Betelgeuse has a companion star. But it won't last long – one day Betelgeuse will swallow its buddy | BBC Sky at Night Magazine
Betelgeuse's companion star was found in a tight orbit using the ‘Alopeke instrument on Gemini North at the International Gemini Observatory.
share.google
July 22, 2025 at 10:31 AM
vonmallinckrodt.bsky.social
Ad hominem …

ist e #noGo bei Profis. Bei Amateuren …

wenn Du bei e Sache (Kommunikation, Thema!) bei dem es zu e Diskurs kommt, d DebattenPartner (nicht Thema!) beleidigst, hast Du Dich …

#Diskreditiert!

"Wenn d #Debatte verloren ist, werden Beleidigungen zum Werkzeug d Verlierers."

Sokrates🖖
Sokrates (altgriechisch Σωκράτης Sōkrátēs; * 469 v. Chr. in Alopeke, Athen; † 399 v. Chr. in Athen) war ein für das abendländische Denken grundlegender griechischer Philosoph, der in Athen zur Zeit der Attischen Demokratie lebte und wirkte. Zur Erlangung von Menschenkenntnis, ethischen Grundsätzen und Weltverstehen entwickelte er die philosophische Methode eines strukturierten Dialogs, die er Maieutik („Hebammenkunst“) nannte. Wiki 🖖 Sokrates (altgriechisch Σωκράτης Sōkrátēs; * 469 v. Chr. in Alopeke, Athen; † 399 v. Chr. in Athen) war ein für das abendländische Denken grundlegender griechischer Philosoph, der in Athen zur Zeit der Attischen Demokratie lebte und wirkte. Zur Erlangung von Menschenkenntnis, ethischen Grundsätzen und Weltverstehen entwickelte er die philosophische Methode eines strukturierten Dialogs, die er Maieutik („Hebammenkunst“) nannte. Wiki 🖖
August 21, 2024 at 7:48 AM
usngo.bsky.social
Here is a summary of observations from both Gemini telescopes in December 2025, divided by instrument and color-coded by location. Gemini's Alopeke took the most observations last month, totaling over 2,600!
January 19, 2026 at 8:20 PM
drnereide.bsky.social
A 🧵
For centuries, Betelgeuse, the iconic red supergiant in Orion, has fascinated astronomers with its changing brightness.

Why does its light vary over a ~6-year cycle?

Thanks to the Gemini North telescope, we now have an answer: Betelgeuse has a companion star!

🔭 🧪 #stellarastro #galactic
The image shows a vast star field with a faint yellow-orange star, Betelgeuse, at its center. Two white segments radiate from it, converging toward a black box at the upper left. In the box, Betelgeuse appears as a bright orange, almost circular disk, next to its companion, a smaller, less well-defined, dark blue star located slightly to the lower left of Betelgeuse. The companion, detected with the 'Alopeke instrument on the Gemini North telescope, is a hot, young star. This discovery explains Betelgeuse's brightness variability every six years.
July 24, 2025 at 2:16 PM
marijkelouise.bsky.social
De rode reus Betelgeuze in Orion heeft een begeleidende ster, die een langlopend mysterie rond zijn variabele helderheid oplost.

www.skyatnightmagazine.com/news/betelge...
It's official. Betelgeuse has a companion star. But it won't last long – one day Betelgeuse will swallow its buddy | BBC Sky at Night Magazine
Betelgeuse's companion star was found in a tight orbit using the ‘Alopeke instrument on Gemini North at the International Gemini Observatory.
www.skyatnightmagazine.com
July 22, 2025 at 6:19 PM
setiinstitute.bsky.social
Credit: International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA
Image Processing: M. Zamani (NSF NOIRLab)

Learn more: noirlab.edu/public/news/...
Gemini North Discovers Long-Predicted Stellar Companion of Betelgeuse - Gemini North telescope in Hawai‘i reveals never-before-seen companion to Betelgeuse, solving millennia-old mystery
Astronomers have discovered a companion star in an incredibly tight orbit around Betelgeuse using the NASA and U.S. National Science Foundation-funded ‘Alopeke instrument on Gemini North, one half of…
noirlab.edu
August 1, 2025 at 3:02 PM
michael-w-busch.bsky.social
Soon in ApJL:

"Probable Direct Imaging Discovery of the Stellar Companion to Betelgeuse"

noirlab.edu/public/news/...

How to hide a star 1.5 times the mass of the Sun:

Put it right next to the red supergiant.
Gemini North Discovers Long-Predicted Stellar Companion of Betelgeuse - Gemini North telescope in Hawai‘i reveals never-before-seen companion to Betelgeuse, solving millennia-old mystery
Astronomers have discovered a companion star in an incredibly tight orbit around Betelgeuse using the NASA and U.S. National Science Foundation-funded ‘Alopeke instrument on Gemini North, one half of ...
noirlab.edu
July 21, 2025 at 7:12 PM
starstryder.space
I finally got a chance to read the Betelgeuse release.

noirlab.edu/public/news/...

Key takeaways:
1) This is an image release building on past papers
2) The results need to be confirmed with another telescope
3) Image was taken 9 Dec 24.
4) Companion period is 5.775 years

continued...
Gemini North Discovers Long-Predicted Stellar Companion of Betelgeuse - Gemini North telescope in Hawai‘i reveals never-before-seen companion to Betelgeuse, solving millennia-old mystery
Astronomers have discovered a companion star in an incredibly tight orbit around Betelgeuse using the NASA and U.S. National Science Foundation-funded ‘Alopeke instrument on Gemini North, one half of ...
noirlab.edu
July 22, 2025 at 2:10 AM
bskycat.com
お、ついにベテルギウスの伴星見つかったんか
noirlab.edu/public/news/...
Gemini North Discovers Long-Predicted Stellar Companion of Betelgeuse - Gemini North telescope in Hawai‘i reveals never-before-seen companion to Betelgeuse, solving millennia-old mystery
Astronomers have discovered a companion star in an incredibly tight orbit around Betelgeuse using the NASA and U.S. National Science Foundation-funded ‘Alopeke instrument on Gemini North, one half of ...
noirlab.edu
July 23, 2025 at 1:07 PM
george-1788pow.bsky.social
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/202...
Betelgeuse’s hidden companion star found after centuries of searching
Astronomers have finally confirmed the existence of a long-suspected companion star orbiting Betelgeuse, the iconic red supergiant in Orion. Using the advanced 'Alopeke speckle imager on the Gemini No...
www.sciencedaily.com
August 13, 2025 at 2:29 PM
localgroupjp.bsky.social
ベテルギウスに伴星発見。

こんな有名な星なのにいままで見つかっていなかったというのが驚きですが、長らく存在が予測されていました。
ベテルギウスの変光との関連などいろいろなことの理解につながりそうです。
noirlab.edu/public/news/...
Gemini North Discovers Long-Predicted Stellar Companion of Betelgeuse - Gemini North telescope in Hawai‘i reveals never-before-seen companion to Betelgeuse, solving millennia-old mystery
Astronomers have discovered a companion star in an incredibly tight orbit around Betelgeuse using the NASA and U.S. National Science Foundation-funded ‘Alopeke instrument on Gemini North, one half of ...
noirlab.edu
July 22, 2025 at 10:16 AM
usngo.bsky.social
Credit (‘Alopeke):
NOIRLab/NSF/AURA

Credit (Zorro):
NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/D. Munizaga

Learn more about the ‘Alopeke and Zorro instruments here: www.gemini.edu/instrumentat...
`Alopeke & Zorro
Capability Summary (Read more) Speckle Imaging 1-minute integrations comprised of 1000 images of 60 msec each 256x256 pixel (2.5") subarray Can achieve diffraction-limited resolution (0.016" FWHM at 5...
www.gemini.edu
December 5, 2025 at 7:00 PM