Research on the Ridge

NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory, jointly funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science, is seen here on the low ridge of Cerro Pachón in Chile with snow-dusted mountains in the background. With an altitude of more than 2600 meters (8600 feet) at Rubin Observatory, Cerro Pachón is an ideal location for astronomical research with its dry, stable air. The 8.4-meter Simonyi Survey Telescope at Rubin Observatory, equipped with the LSST Camera — the largest digital camera in the world — will survey the entire southern hemisphere every few nights for a decade to create an ultra-wide ultra-high-definition time-lapse record of our Universe. This unique ‘movie’ will bring the night sky to life, yielding a treasure trove of discoveries.

Rubin is positioned near two other observatories in the foothills of the Chilean Andes: the Gemini South telescope, seen at upper-right, and the SOAR Telescope, the smaller telescope to Gemini’s left. Gemini South is one half of the International Gemini Observatory, supported in part by the U.S. National Science Foundation and operated by NSF NOIRLab. The small dome directly to the right of Rubin is the Rubin Auxiliary Telescope (AuxTel), which will provide complementary data on the atmosphere above to assist Rubin’s observations of the Universe.

Rubin Observatory is a Program of NSF NOIRLab, which, along with SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, will jointly operate Rubin.

Credit:

O. Bonin/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory

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Release date:Jan. 15, 2025, noon
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