Geochang-gun Opens Gamaksan SLR Observatory for the First Time... Hosts Astrophotography Exhibition

Enjoying the Starlit Night Sky in a Frame Where Aster Chrysanthemums Bloomed

Panoramic view of Gamaksan SLR Observatory.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Soon-kyung] Geochang-gun, Gyeongnam announced on the 5th that it will hold the ‘Second Half Geochang Celestial Photo Exhibition’ hosted by Wolseong Space Creative Science Museum at the artificial satellite laser observatory located at the summit of Gamaksan from the 10th to the 14th.

The Geochang Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR) observatory, where the photo exhibition is held, is a research facility operated by the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute. It fires lasers to accurately determine the position of artificial satellites and serves as a lighthouse to protect South Korea in advance from hazardous objects such as space debris.

The observatory was completed in 2015, began operation in 2016, and held its opening ceremony in November 2018. As it is a facility that must be operated with very high precision and safety for research purposes, public access has been prohibited so far, but the interior will be opened to the public for the first time during this exhibition by utilizing the period when research is not being conducted.

The observatory is located at the summit of Gamaksan, which has emerged as the hottest place in Geochang this fall for flower & star trips, including Asta Chrysanthemum, wind power complexes, and night view observatories, so this exhibition is also expected to attract much attention.

Inside the observatory, 40 celestial photos composed of various celestial bodies and astronomical phenomena that can be seen in Geochang’s pristine night sky will be exhibited.

In addition to the winning works of the second half celestial photo lecture ‘Capturing the Wolseong Night Sky’ held at the end of last October, the mysterious and beautiful night sky scenes captured in frames, such as the diurnal motion of stars moving in concentric circles and the vast Milky Way, are expected to arouse interest and curiosity about astronomy and space science.

A Geochang-gun official said, “If you view the photo exhibition and write an on-site review, an event will be held on the last day of the exhibition, the 14th, in the afternoon, where celestial photos will be given away through a drawing.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.