- The world’s largest digital camera begins recording the evolution of the universe every night
- Chile’s giant observatory already discovers thousands of hidden asteroids in first tests
- New study of the sky captures new cosmic images every forty seconds during the night
A camera the size of a small car has launched the most ambitious astronomical study ever attempted from Earth.
The Vera C. Rubin Observatory, perched atop Cerro Pachón in northern Chile, has officially launched its Legacy Survey of Space and Time.
Every 40 seconds during the night, the 6,600-pound instrument captures a new image using its 3,200-megapixel sensor, the largest digital camera ever built.
Decade-long cosmic record begins
Over the next decade, the camera will return to each patch of sky approximately 800 times, creating a living record of celestial changes.
Željko Ivezić, Director of LSST, said the launch followed extensive system optimization and a careful review of technical readiness across several performance measures.
“Important factors that played a role in this decision included image quality, effective survey speed, system availability and reliability, and calibration accuracy,” Ivezić said.
The $800 million observatory is jointly funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy’s Office of Science.
“Today we begin filming the greatest cosmic movie ever made… This moment reflects decades of vision, innovation and the power of federal investment,” said Brian Stone of the US National Science Foundation.
Each night, the camera collects approximately 10 TB of data while generating up to seven million alerts reporting changes in the sky.
During the first optimization studies lasting about six weeks, Rubin has already discovered more than 11,000 new asteroids, including 33 near-Earth objects.
Mapping dark matter and the solar system
Scientists intend to use the completed dataset to compile a new inventory of the solar system and the Milky Way.
The survey will also help researchers examine dark matter by studying distorted light from distant galaxies.
Bob Blum, director of the NSF NOIRLab’s Rubin Observatory, said the project follows more than two decades of sustained technical and scientific efforts.
“The Rubin Observatory is for everyone; the LSST will change the way we do astronomy and astrophysics,” Blum said.
Phil Marshall, Rubin deputy director of operations for SLAC, noted that millions of alerts generated in recent months already demonstrate that the system functions as a true discovery machine.
When completed, the final dataset will contain billions of astronomical objects and billions of individual measurements, according to the observatory.
This data will be published regularly, marking the first time that such a comprehensive astronomical archive will become publicly available to researchers and the public.
“Rubin brings the universe to life, illuminating a treasure trove of discoveries: pulsing stars, supernova explosions, the fossil record of galaxies, clues to the mysteries of dark energy and dark matter, and entirely new phenomena never before seen,” the observatory team said.
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