The Vera C. Rubin Observatory has officially begun a 10-year cosmic survey, utilizing the largest digital camera ever built to capture detailed images of the southern sky. Perched on a mountaintop in Chile, the telescope will take hundreds of images per night to map billions of stars in the Milky Way and billions of galaxies beyond it.
Mapping the Universe
Researchers intend to use the data to conduct a better census of the universe, helping them discern how galaxies form and cluster, and how the universe came to be. By capturing the same areas of the sky multiple times, the telescope will allow scientists to glimpse faint objects that previously eluded detection. The survey will also track changes in stellar brightness and position over timescales ranging from days to years.
“We’re going to see large numbers of scientists across the world working with this data set, studying the universe in a way that they haven’t been able to before,” said Phil Marshall, the observatory’s deputy director of operations.
Preparation and Research
The observatory released its first images last year, including shots of the Trifid and Lagoon nebulas. Since that time, researchers have tuned the equipment to ensure it meets the depth and accuracy required for the decade-long mission. By studying the colors and brightness of stars, scientists hope to piece together information about the temperature, age, and size of stars, which serve as building blocks for understanding the history and evolution of the Milky Way.
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