This image shows a small section of NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory’s view of the Virgo cluster of galaxies, including two spiral galaxies (lower right).  NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory

Dear Commons Community,

The first test images from a groundbreaking observatory named for trailblazing astronomer Vera Rubin have captured the light from millions of distant stars and galaxies on an unprecedented scale and revealed thousands of previously unseen asteroids.

While the National Science Foundation initially released only a couple of images and a brief video clip of the Vera C. Rubin Observatory’s first imagery, more images and videos taken using the largest camera ever built were shared yesterday on the agency’s YouTube channel. The facility is jointly funded by the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy’s Office of Science.

The new images represent just over 10 hours of test observations, offering a brief preview of the observatory’s decade-long mission to explore the mysteries of the universe like never before.

“NSF-DOE Rubin Observatory will capture more information about our universe than all optical telescopes throughout history combined,” said National Science Foundation Chief of Staff Brian Stone, who is currently performing the duties of the NSF director.

If you have the time, the ninety-minute NASA Youtube video cited above is most informative.

Tony

This composite image combines 678 separate images to show faint details like clouds of gas and dust in the Trifid nebula (top right) and the Lagoon nebula. – NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory

The Trifid Nebula is an unusual combination of an open cluster of stars, an emission nebula of glowing clouds of gas and dust that emits its own light (the pink region), a reflection nebula that reflects the light of nearby stars (the blue region), and a dark nebula so dense it blocks light from objects behind it (the dark regions). – RubinObs/NOIRLab/SLAC/NSF/DOE/AURA

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