{"id":802843,"date":"2026-06-30T10:52:36","date_gmt":"2026-06-30T15:52:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/?p=802843"},"modified":"2026-06-30T10:52:36","modified_gmt":"2026-06-30T15:52:36","slug":"rubin-observatory-begins-10-year-timelapse-of-the-universe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/?p=802843","title":{"rendered":"Rubin Observatory begins 10-year timelapse of the universe"},"content":{"rendered":"


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The Vera C. Rubin Observatory took this 1.7-gigapixel image of a field of stars in the constellation Lupus the Wolf and Centaurus the Centaur. Rubin is unique in its ability to capture both a wide field of view and extremely faint objects. NOIRLab said on June 30, 2026, that the Rubin Observatory has officially begun its 10-year timelapse of the universe: the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST). Image via NSF\u2013DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory\/ NOIRLab\/ SLAC\/ AURA.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Rubin Observatory begins 10-year timelapse of the universe<\/h3>\n

Last June, we got our first look at what the Vera C. Rubin Observatory could do. We were wowed by images of galaxies floating in deep space and a video of thousands of never-before-seen asteroids. And now, on June 30, 2026, the Rubin Observatory has officially begun its 10-year-long survey of the night sky: the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST). <\/p>\n

Every night for the next decade, Rubin will rapidly scan the sky using the world\u2019s largest digital camera to create an ultra-wide, ultra-high-definition timelapse of our universe. The goal of the survey is: <\/p>\n

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to create the most comprehensive, cinematic record of the universe in history.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Brian Stone, the National Science Foundation director, said: <\/p>\n

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Today, we begin filming the greatest cosmic movie ever made.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\"Star
The image at top (Rubin\u2019s Oceans of Stars Field) comes from this area of the sky in the Southern Hemisphere constellations of Lupus the Wolf and Centaurus the Centaur. Image via E. Slawik\/NOIRLab\/NSF\/AURA\/M. Zamani.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A flood of data<\/h3>\n

The Rubin Observatory acquires about 10 terabytes of data per night. And every time it sees something change in the night sky \u2013 whether that be a supernova erupting or an asteroid sailing in front of the background stars \u2013 it sends an alert. How many alerts might it produce in one night? As many as 7 million<\/em>, says NOIRLab. <\/p>\n

After 10 years of the survey, astronomers expect a final dataset of billions of objects with trillions of measurements. It will open the gates to a flood of knowledge about the universe. And that information will be available to both scientists and the public.<\/p>\n

Dar\u00edo Gil of the U.S. Department of Energy said: <\/p>\n

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Rubin Observatory will capture the dynamic nature of our cosmos and reveal unimagined insights into our universe\u2019s biggest mysteries, from our own solar system to the very structure of the universe. By seeking to understand the enigmatic phenomena of dark energy and dark matter, we are not just observing the stars; we are striving to grasp the fundamental laws that govern our existence.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Watch: A week in the life of Rubin Observatory<\/h3>\n

The Rubin Observatory will build a multicolor map of the universe. This video shows how much of the sky Rubin can scan in a week with its various color filters.<\/p>\n