Join us at Battle Point Observatory Saturday, June 13 at 7:00 pm for our monthly Second Saturday Science Talk!
“Updates from the Vera C. Rubin Observatory”
Guest speaker: Erin Leigh Howard, Rubin scientist & BPAA Education Director
The Vera C. Rubin Observatory spent the night staring at the dark cosmos, alerting astronomers of ongoing changes in the skies in real-time.
The observatory fired off its first wave of notifications from its new alert system on February 24, sending 800,000 alerts to astronomers’ computers around the world.
The Vera Rubin Observatory’s first light images captured the Virgo Cluster of galaxies, highlighting the discovery of a massive 163,000-light-year-long stellar stream extending from the spiral galaxy Messier 61. This stream is likely the remnant of a dwarf galaxy or globular cluster torn apart by tidal forces.
The NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory, starting in late 2025, will begin the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST)—the most expansive sky survey ever conducted. Using a 3,200-megapixel camera built at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, it will capture an 8GB image every 40 seconds, revisiting the same sky regions every three nights. This decade-long project aims to uncover rare cosmic events by collecting vast amounts of astrophysical data. The observatory is jointly funded and operated by the NSF and DOE.
July’s Science Topic – Discover the Vera C. Rubin Observatory
12 Jul 2025 19:00 – 21:00
The NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory has unveiled its first imagery, showcasing cosmic phenomena captured over just ten hours of test observations. This facility is set to explore significant mysteries of the Universe over a ten-year mission.
The Vera C. Rubin Observatory, located on Cerro Pachón in northern Chile, is set to begin a significant 10-year sky survey aimed at mapping the universe in 3D and searching for transient phenomena. This 8.4-meter telescope will complement existing facilities in the area, including the Gemini South and SOAR telescopes. The observatory’s design minimizes air turbulence, and it features a coating plant for maintaining its giant mirrors. Despite delays caused by the Covid pandemic, the observatory is expected to achieve first light within the year.