VRubinObs

VRubinObs, 7 days ago to random

When you finally get that shiny coating you wanted.... 🤩

Rubin Observatory's 8.4-meter mirror is officially, finally, a mirror! In a 4.5-hour process, the glass got its protected silver coating—and one step closer to being able to #CaptureTheCosmos

🔗: https://rubinobservatory.org/news/coating-primary-mirror

VRubinObs, 10 days ago to random

The process of fabricating and polishing the glass structure for Rubin's two-in-one mirror took 7 years! So what went into it?

Find out in part two of the "Making of Rubin's 8.4-meter Mirror" 🤩

#CaptureTheCosmos

https://youtu.be/sGWO4J8vIoA

VRubinObs, 11 days ago to random

The first step to building anything is designing it!

But how did a two-in-one mirror enter the designs for Rubin Observatory in the first place? 🤔

#CaptureTheCosmos

https://youtu.be/5N6Z9t_j-Ps

VRubinObs, 18 days ago to random

It's #FeatureFriday! Meet Nora Shipp, stellar streams extraordinaire ✨

Stellar streams are the torn-apart remnants of small galaxies or star clusters around the Milky Way—they hold clues about its history, and the dark matter that surrounds it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HG_fWaNQy0Q

VRubinObs, 22 days ago to random

It was Colonel Mustard in the ballroom with the candlestick!

In our cosmic game of "Who Dunnit," the glittering tendrils of stars around the Milky Way known as stellar streams are the clues to figure out how dark matter behaves on sub-galactic scales.

🔗: https://rubinobservatory.org/news/rubin-reveal-stellar-streams

🧵

VRubinObs, 1 month ago to random

That feeling when you check a huge item off your to-do list...

Giant digital camera: ✅

Construction of Rubin Observatory's car-sized camera is officially complete at SLAC National Accelerator Lab! We're one step closer to being ready to #CaptureTheCosmos🌌

🔗: https://rubinobservatory.org/news/rubins-lsst-camera-is-complete

VRubinObs, 1 month ago to random

What can we say, we've got a pretty great view!

...which is probably not a surprise. Rubin Observatory's site in Chile was chosen in large part because of dark skies 🌌

As #DarkSkyWeek kicks off, we're looking up! Turn down your lights and celebrate the dark with us✨ #IDSW2024

Rubin Observatory beneath a starry night sky and cloudy Milky Way. The Milky Way appears as a luminous horizontal band at the top of the image, with dark dust bands interwoven throughout.
A white observatory building with shiny silver angular dome sits beneath the sweeping vertical band of stars of the Milky Way. The sky itself has a slight green hue, and red wispy tendrils are visible toward the horizon

VRubinObs, 1 month ago to random

To close out #WomensHERstoryMonth, we're celebrating our namesake, Dr. Vera C. Rubin ✨

Dr. Rubin was an accomplished American astronomer whose work provided convincing evidence for the existence of dark matter. Rubin Observatory was renamed in her honor in 2019.

VRubinObs, 1 month ago to random

Full moon rising 🌕

This epic view of Rubin Observatory from March 24 was taken about 25km away near Andacollo, Chile, looking northeast toward Cerro Pachón.

Staff members Hernán Stockebrand and Mauricio Hernández spent months planning this shot—and it definitely paid off!

VRubinObs, 1 month ago to random

1...2...3...LIFT!

The 62-ton piece of glass that will soon become Rubin Observatory's combined primary/tertiary mirror was unboxed at the summit this week and lifted onto its steel support cell! 🧵

VRubinObs, 1 month ago to random

It's time for a #WomensHERstoryMonth feature!

Join Rubin scientist Bernardita Ried for a day in her life as a PhD student at SLAC National Accelerator Lab 💁‍♀️

Bernardita grew up near observatories in Chile, so it's no surprise that she now studies the Universe 🌌

https://youtu.be/FWTSF543jik

VRubinObs, 1 month ago to random

It's not every day we get to throw a welcome home party 🎉

Last week marked a big construction achievement with the move of our 8.4-meter primary/tertiary mirror into the main observatory building! It'll now go through preparations to get its shiny silver coating ✨

https://youtu.be/xW_tukDo0Os

VRubinObs, 1 month ago to hiring

We're #hiring!

Rubin Observatory seeks a talented adminstrative professional to support operations activities. As a Senior Executive Coordinator, this person will be an important part of making Rubin science a reality!

Apply by March 20: https://ow.ly/JvUr50QO2qX

VRubinObs, 2 months ago to random

Join Rubin's system performance team and help us complete the crucial work of ensuring the observatory functions as designed!

Role open until filled, but apply by February 15th for first-round consideration! 🔭

🔗: https://recruiting2.ultipro.com/SPA1004AURA/JobBoard/3a88e9d0-e68e-418e-9433-d36443ba8c5b/OpportunityDetail?opportunityId=65ba397c-4538-4bdd-86ba-a1cca22f1a96&sourceId=32741746-b5a6-4199-ba70-e96265213a34

VRubinObs, 2 months ago to random

The Cosmic Mysteries Department....coming to a night sky near you* in 2025 ✨

Rubin Observatory is a new astronomical facility nearing completion in Chile. Over ten years, it will use a 3200-megapixel, car-sized digital camera to repeatedly image the sky every few nights🌌

*in Chile

Song lyrics reading "And so we scan the night sky In pursuit of data and discovery Our muses, acquired in quick succession Twice a minute, for ten years The snap, snap, snap, of the camera shutter Recording the cosmos in a blink All’s fair in astronomy and astrophysics Sincerely, The Cosmic Mysteries Department"

VRubinObs, 2 months ago to random

How will Rubin help inform future spacecraft missions without leaving the ground? Here's what Rubin scientist Siegfried Eggl had to say!

https://youtu.be/uitWbbpLkgU

Want the full story? Read our newest release at https://rubinobservatory.org/news/new-era-space-missions

VRubinObs, 3 months ago to random

Rubin Observatory’s future asteroid discoveries 🤝 exploratory space missions ➡️ a match made in the cosmos!

Rubin will revolutionize asteroid exploration from Earth, uncovering millions of new objects to consider for visits—without ever leaving the ground!

🔗: rubinobservatory.org/news/new-era-space-missions

VRubinObs, 3 months ago to hiring

🚨 Job alert: the LSST Discovery Alliance is #hiring a Director for Strategic Engagement! ☄️

Do you have a (natural or social) scientific or technical background, strategic thinking skills, excitement for Rubin's ten-year survey and for scientific inclusion, and a passion for building relationships? Apply by Feb. 15: https://lsstdiscoveryalliance.org/director-for-strategic-engagement/

--
LSST-DA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that develops and implements bold programs that seek to maximize the scientific and societal impact of Rubin's LSST.

VRubinObs, 3 months ago to random

We're reminiscing on a great week in New Orleans for #AAS243 🤩

Reminisce with us in our latest news post👇
https://rubinobservatory.org/news/rubin-represents

VRubinObs, 3 months ago to random

We're so excited to be here in New Orleans for #AAS243!

Are you here too? Stop by our booth in the exhibit hall (Booth 203E) to learn about opportunities and upcoming science with Rubin!

Oh, and we have a high score contest going for a chance to win prizes with our web-based game, #SpaceSurveyors (https://spacesurveyors.app)! 🤩🎮

video/mp4

VRubinObs, 5 months ago to random

We’re nearing our final form 😎

Gear up, this one’s good. The Rubin Observatory dome officially rotated using its permanent gear system for the first time!

Until now, the dome moved with a temporary system that would only roughly position the dome as needed during construction. The new gear drive is what will precisely rotate the 600-ton dome into position throughout Rubin’s ten-year survey, due to start in 2025. And it has little vibration—important for the crisp images we all can’t wait for!

For the first 5 seconds, we’re zoomed in on one of the gears of the drive system that is turning and driving the dome above. From 5-11 seconds, we see the telescope mount appearing to rotate from above, but text appears on screen that says “the telescope isn’t moving, the dome is!” From 11-17 seconds, we’re back to a zoomed-in view of one of the gears turning the dome.

VRubinObs, 5 months ago to random

It all hangs in the balance ⚖️

Despite being 200+ tons, the telescope at Rubin’s summit facility moves nimbly thanks to precise balancing. This video shows recent tests confirming the telescope's balance, which is needed to move on to other tests!

🔗: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjiFaF4FSYk&pp=ygURcnViaW4gb2JzZXJ2YXRvcnk%3D