Tessera
Folgen

NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory

@vrubinobs.bsky.social

Get ready for a new era in astronomy and astrophysics with Rubin Observatory! Para español siga a Instagram: http://instagram.com/rubin_observatory

716 Posts11775 Follower96 Folgt
NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory@vrubinobs.bsky.social · 2d ago

What a week last week at #Rubin2026 for NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory! 🔭🧪 Hundreds gathered in person at SLAC National Accelerator Lab and virtually to discuss science, software, and collaboration. The future of big-data astrophysics is bright and underway! See you next year! 🌌🤝💻 📷: J. Orrell/SLAC

Large group of people wearing matching blue-purple shirts gathered outdoors on a sunny lawn surrounded by trees for a group photo.
NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory@vrubinobs.bsky.social · 6d ago

Chile Storm Recovery Update: 30 July 2026 Recovery efforts continue at NSF NOIRLab’s facilities in Chile, which include NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory, after historic winter storms across the Coquimbo Region. Full recovery will take several weeks, but teams are making progress. 🔭🧪

Illustration of a boot-shaped observatory against a dark blue background. Bilingual text reads "Severe Storms Impacting Rubin Operations in Chile: 30 July 2026 update. Sistema frontal impactó las operaciones de Rubin en Chile: Actualización del 30 de julio de 2026."
NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory@vrubinobs.bsky.social · last wk.

Today, we're kicking off the 2026 Rubin Community Workshop at SLAC National Accelerator Lab! #RCW2026 Over the next five days, hundreds of scientists and engineers will come together for collaboration and conversation about big-data astrophysics with Rubin. Here's to a week of sharing ideas! 🔭🧪

Banner for the Rubin Community Workshop displayed outdoors with trees and a building in the background.Modern building with large windows and an entry sign reading 'SLAC Science and User Support Building' surrounded by landscaping.Volunteers at a registration table in a spacious lobby assisting attendees checking in.Rubin Director Bob Blum giving a status update at the 2026 Rubin Community Workshop in a lecture hall filled with attendees on their laptops.
NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory@vrubinobs.bsky.social · 2w ago

On this day in 1928, Dr. Vera C. Rubin was born 🔭🧪 At 14, she built her first telescope out of a cardboard tube. Her work provided the first convincing evidence of dark matter, & scientists' quest to understand dark matter led to the idea that became NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory 🌌

A composite image showing Dr. Vera Rubin in grayscale standing at a large telescope, with Rubin Observatory in teal in the background atop its rocky summit site.Grayscale woman with short hair and glasses uses a tabletop instrument.Woman with short white hair and glasses leaning against a marble wall.A young Vera Rubin with shoulder-length hair looking through a telescope at Vassar College around 1947 in a black and white photo.
NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory@vrubinobs.bsky.social · 2w ago

Severe Storms Impacting NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory Operations in Chile Chile has been impacted by an exceptionally powerful storm with heavy precipitation and widespread flooding affecting the communities where many of our colleagues live. 🔭🧪☄️ 🧵

NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory@vrubinobs.bsky.social · 3w ago

Check out this view ➡️ 🤩 Cerro Pachón definitely understood the assignment. This panoramic sunset view captures NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory atop its summit site above the Chilean landscape. 🔭🧪 The night skies here are spectacular, but the mountains put on quite a show before the stars come out too 🌟

Panoramic sunset over rugged mountain landscape. A winding road recedes under orange‑pink clouds, and a large boot-shaped white telescope building stands at right beside a metal guardrail.
NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory@vrubinobs.bsky.social · 4w ago

A pair of Gatos Andinos, which are extremely rare Andean mountain cats, were recently spotted down the ridge from NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory near the 4-m SOAR Telescope. 🔭🧪 Because they live in such remote mountain terrain, seeing them up close is a rare treat 🐱 📷: SOAR Day Crew

A small spotted wildcat blending into rocky terrain and dry shrubs.A small wildcat with a spotted coat peers over rocks toward the left among dry shrubs.A spotted wildcat leaps over rocky terrain with sparse vegetation.
NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory@vrubinobs.bsky.social · last mo.

What do we mean when we say NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory will scan the sky? This visualization shows what a typical week of the 10-year survey looks like. The survey runs via a smart algorithm called a scheduler that dynamically determines where Rubin points next. 🔭🧪

NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory@vrubinobs.bsky.social · last mo.

Yes, they really pushed a 350-ton telescope by hand 🤯 NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory’s 8.4m telescope is so precisely balanced that staff can move it just by pushing. That balancing reduces strain on the drive motors and helps with smoothly tracking objects across the night sky 🌌 🔭🧪

NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory@vrubinobs.bsky.social · last mo.

How do you build the ultimate movie of the cosmos? 🎬🌌 Start with a decade of observations, millions of images, billions of stars and galaxies, and enough data to fill tens of thousands of laptops. 🔭🧪 Talk about a blockbuster 🤯

Low-angle view of an angular silver observatory dome with open vents under a clear, star-filled sky and the faint band of the Milky Way.
NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory@vrubinobs.bsky.social · last mo.

Two observatories, two anniversaries, one nebula🌌🎉 One year after NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory First Look & 36 years of NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, we’re revisiting the Trifid Nebula as seen by both. Also known as M20, Trifid is a stellar nursery about 5,000 light-years away in the Milky Way. 🔭🧪

Three-panel zoom into the Trifid and Lagoon Nebulae of the Milky Way’s core. Left: wide Rubin view of both the Trifid and Lagoon Nebulae. Lagoon is a glowing pink lima-bean shape stood on end at right, while Trifid is a glowing pink-and-blue cotton ball at upper left. Middle: closer view of the rosy gas and dust of the Trifid Nebula. Right: Hubble’s close-up of a small section of the Trifid Nebula showing dark, backlit dust pillars with bright edges and stars scattered throughout.