The Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile has unveiled its first images, showcasing its unparalleled ability to probe the universe’s depths.
One striking image reveals vibrant nebulae swirling within a star-forming region 9,000 light-years from Earth.
Equipped with the world’s most powerful digital camera, the observatory promises to revolutionize our cosmic understanding.
Scientists predict it could locate a hypothetical ninth planet within its first year of operation.
Its capabilities extend to detecting potentially hazardous near-Earth asteroids, mapping the Milky Way, and addressing fundamental questions about dark matter, a mysterious substance comprising most of the universe.
This landmark achievement in astronomy marks the commencement of a continuous ten-year survey of the southern night sky.
“I’ve personally worked towards this for about 25 years. For decades, we’ve aimed to build this exceptional facility and conduct this kind of survey,” states Professor Catherine Heymans, Astronomer Royal for Scotland.
A key partner in the project, the UK will host data centers dedicated to processing the telescope’s incredibly detailed observations.
The Vera Rubin Observatory has the potential to increase the number of known objects in our solar system by a factor of ten.
BBC News visited the Vera Rubin Observatory prior to the image release.
Nestled atop Cerro Pachón, a mountain in the Chilean Andes, the observatory shares its location with several others within a privately owned area designated for space research.
The high altitude, arid climate, and exceptionally dark skies create ideal conditions for astronomical observation.
Maintaining this darkness is paramount. Even nighttime vehicle travel requires caution, with high-beam headlights strictly prohibited.
This meticulous attention to light control extends to the observatory’s interior.
A dedicated engineering team ensures the dome remains dark, eliminating stray light sources that might interfere with astronomical observations.
Commissioning scientist Elana Urbach explains that starlight provides sufficient illumination for navigation.
One primary objective, she adds, is to “understand the history of the Universe,” requiring the ability to observe faint galaxies and supernovae from billions of years ago.
“Therefore, we need exceptionally sharp images,” Elana emphasizes.
This precision is reflected in every aspect of the observatory’s design.
Its unique three-mirror system—an 8.4m primary mirror, a 3.4m secondary mirror, and a 4.8m tertiary mirror—optimizes light collection and image quality.
Maintaining the mirrors’ pristine condition is critical; even a minute speck of dust could compromise image quality.
The mirrors’ high reflectivity and speed allow the telescope to gather substantial light, which Guillem Megias, an active optics expert, notes is crucial for observing distant, ancient objects.
The telescope’s camera will repeatedly image the night sky over ten years for the Legacy Survey of Space and Time.
Measuring 1.65m x 3m and weighing 2,800kg, the camera boasts a wide field of view.
It captures an image approximately every 40 seconds, for 8-12 hours nightly, enabled by the rapid repositioning of the dome and telescope mount.
With 3,200 megapixels (67 times that of an iPhone 16 Pro camera), its resolution is so high that it could resolve a golf ball on the Moon and would require 400 Ultra HD screens to display a single image.
“Receiving the first image here was a truly special moment,” Mr. Megias recalls.
“When I began working on this project, I met someone involved since 1996. I was born in 1997. It highlights this as a generational endeavor for astronomers.”
Hundreds of scientists worldwide will analyze the resulting data stream, expected to peak at around 10 million alerts per night.
The survey will focus on four key areas: transient object detection, Milky Way formation, Solar System mapping, and dark matter research.
Its greatest strength lies in its continuous observation and detection of changes, instantly alerting scientists to new phenomena.
“This transient aspect is truly unique… It has the potential to reveal things we haven’t even considered,” explains Professor Heymans.
It could also enhance planetary defense by detecting potentially hazardous near-Earth objects, including asteroids.
The camera’s large mirrors will enable detection of faint light and distortions from these objects, tracking their trajectories through space.
“It’s transformative. It will be the largest dataset we’ve ever had to study our galaxy. It will fuel our research for many years,” says Professor Alis Deason at Durham University.
She will analyze the images to map the Milky Way’s boundaries.
Currently, most data extends to about 163,000 light-years, but Vera Rubin could enable observations up to 1.2 million light-years.
Professor Deason anticipates insights into the Milky Way’s stellar halo and the detection of faint, previously undiscovered satellite galaxies.
Intriguingly, Vera Rubin may finally resolve the longstanding mystery surrounding the existence of Planet Nine in our solar system.
This object, potentially 700 times farther from the Sun than Earth, lies beyond the reach of other ground-based telescopes.
“It will take time to fully understand this remarkable observatory. But I’m eager to see what it reveals,” concludes Professor Heymans.
Watch BBC News go behind the scenes at the Rubin Observatory on Tech Now
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