Rubin Observatory Observing Variable Stars

This illustration depicts NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory capturing the light of variable stars — stars that increase and decrease in brightness over time. It’s estimated that during its 10-year-long Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) Rubin will detect around 100 million variable stars across the southern hemisphere sky. The rhythmic pulses of these stars’ light allows astronomers to study stellar composition and evolution, as well as map vast cosmic distances. With the enormous influx of data that will arrive once Rubin begins its survey, scientists will be able to conduct statistical investigations into the nature of variable stars and refine their periodic variability over longer periods of time.