The Royal Astronomical Society says it is "shocked" by the sudden decision of the Science and Technology Facilities Council to withdraw the UK from the Gemini Observatory. The UK has been a key partner in the observatory, which has telescopes in Hawaii and Chile, since its inception in 1999. "This decision is a serious mistake and a shock to all of us. If it goes ahead it will deny UK scientists access to large telescopes in the northern hemisphere and hinder their ability to study almost half the sky," said Michael Rowan-Robinson, president of the society.