- Vera C. Rubin Observatory has released its first image in full resolution
- It was caught using an Ultra-Powerful 3,200-Megapixel Digital Camera
- The telescope scans the sky after dark fabric, asteroids and planet nine
The world’s most powerful digital camera has taken its first photos and they reveal the cosmos in a fantastic detail. Shared as part of Vera C. Rubin Observatory’s ‘First Look’ campaign, captures the compound image a panoramic view of trifid and lagoon nebulae – a region where new stars are formed.
Stills come from the largest digital camera ever made. With a resolution of 3,200MP, it is the central component of the telescope at Rubin Observatory in Chile. By catching a scene some 4-5,000 light years from Earth, the images offer a spectacular glimpse of our universe’s star control machines.
The full -size image, which you can download here, consists of 678 individual exposures measuring about five gigapixels in total. A closer look reveals the stars of the stars of dust and gas in breathtaking color and details. More impressive than the scale, however, is how quickly the observatory produced the picture: It only took 7.2 hours.
It makes Rubin unique among space telescopes. By working quickly and covering an ultra -field field of view in each frame, it is capable of mapping large areas in a short time. The results are as scientifically valuable as they are beautiful. By revealing regions of the universe in new depth, scientists allow to promote their understanding of our cosmic environment.
All eyes to the sky
These early images mark the start of a new era in astronomy. The Rubin Observatory is beginning the older study of space and time (LSK), a ten-year mission to map the night sky in unprecedented detail. It is a project that can basically change our understanding of the universe – not only because of what it reveals, but because of how often.
Unlike traditional observatories targeting narrow slices of space, the Rubin telescope is designed to scan the entire southern hemisphere every three nights. The dome locations quickly to cover the sky and capture images more than once a minute for approx. ten hours. This regular cadence allows astronomers to detect changes more easily.
The observatory is at the top of Cerro Pachón, a mountain top in northern Chile. The remote location, high height and dry climate create almost perfect relationship with astronomy: the thinner air and the lack of light pollution allow the telescope to take advantage of clearer, darker night sky. It gives the ruby observatory a wide observation window.
Look at
During its test phase, it discovered more than 2,000 previously unknown asteroids in just 10 hours, highlighting the potential of the telescope as an early warning for our planet.
The observatory is also expected to play a leading role in the hunt for the hypothetical planet Nine, a massive celestial body that some scientists believe to hide on the distant edge of our solar system. Its powerful optics and sweeping range makes the ruby telescope the perfect tool to discover what lurks out over Pluto’s orbit.
But perhaps Rubin’s most ambitious goals relate to what cannot be seen. By catching data from countless galaxies, the observatory will help scientists build a better picture of the invisible dark substance that makes up most of the universe – and the mysterious dark energy that causes its expansion.
The key to the mission is the camera itself, which is the largest ever installed on a telescope. The size of a small car, it catches part of the sky equivalent to 45 full moons in a single shot.
During its study, Rubin is expected to generate more than 60 Petabyte data. It will be up to the scientific community of the world to analyze the results and decipher their secrets.
