The Vera C. Rubin Observatory: A Powerful Eye on the Changing Cosmos

This event featuring Dr. Sandrine Thomas,
Vera C. Rubin Observatory Associate Director for Summit Operation, is brought to you by our friends at Vassar College.

A new discovery experiment just began a 10-year survey that could transform our understanding of the universe. The Vera C. Rubin Observatory, named for the astronomer who found conclusive evidence for the existence of mysterious dark matter in the universe, uses the largest digital camera ever built, a fast telescope and a sophisticated pipeline to document anything that changes in the southern sky over time, from asteroids and comets in our solar system to variable stars, supernova explosions, and interstellar objects. The resulting ultra-high-definition time-lapse map of billions of celestial objects will also provide insights into the nature of dark matter and dark energy--the enigmatic force that appears to be driving galaxies apart at an accelerating pace—and perhaps yet-to-be discovered cosmic phenomena.

Dr. Sandrine Thomas will discuss the Rubin Observatory’s early results, its history and objectives, and the innovative system built to handle the tidal wave of data it produces every day.