Guardian Unlimited - November 16, 2007
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Already the impact of this is being seen. Earlier this week the STFC announced plans to withdraw the UK from the Gemini Observatory, an international collaboration that operates twin telescopes with 8m mirrors, one based in Hawaii and one in Chile. These two telescopes detect visible and infrared light and are amongst the largest in the world. Telescopes of this class can see exquisite detail and detect faint and often very distant objects. Amongst other quests, these instruments help astronomers search for planets around other stars and enable them to see images of galaxies that formed soon after the Universe began. Participation in Gemini and facilities like it help our scientists stay in the forefront of research in these areas - stepping stones to answering questions about the existence of extraterrestrial life and the origin of the cosmos.
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