In Chile, a groundbreaking project is underway to revolutionize our understanding of the cosmos. The Vera S. Rubin Observatory, named after the renowned American astronomer who studied dark matter, is set to launch soon and will create one of the most extensive maps of the night sky in history.
Over the next decade, this state-of-the-art telescope will capture millions of astronomical objects daily at an astonishing rate of over 100 frames per second. This high-intensity observation process will provide scientists with an unprecedented amount of data on the dynamic processes of space.
The system will adjust and stabilize the telescope every three nights, allowing for comparisons between images in ultraviolet, visible, and infrared light with previous observations. This will enable scientists to create a detailed “movie” illustrating how space evolves over time.
Astronomer Mann highlights the unique nature of this project, emphasizing its unparalleled combination of depth, spectral coverage, spatial reach, and temporal resolution. This comprehensive approach may reveal new classes of variable phenomena previously hidden from scientific exploration.
The Vera Rubin Observatory promises to unlock deeper mysteries of space, shedding light on its origins and potential fate. This groundbreaking initiative will enhance our understanding of the solar system’s formation and evolution, with data being shared through global data centers for scientists worldwide to access and analyze.
In late September, the observatory will conduct a test launch before commencing full-scale operations at the start of next year. The main camera, boasting a resolution of 3.2 gigapixels and weighing three tons, will be utilized alongside robotic filters to conduct deep surveys of the southern sky over a decade.
Astronomer Mario Yurich from the University of Washington anticipates that the observatory’s constant surveillance of space changes will allow for the detection of variable stars, supernovae, black holes, gas-absorbing galaxies, and other celestial phenomena. It is also poised to identify moving objects within the solar system, including asteroids, comets, and potentially unknown planets.
The sheer volume of data generated by the system is astounding, estimated at around 20 terabytes per night (equivalent to about 60 petabytes over a decade). This immense data output equates to approximately 30 trillion printed pages worth of information.