by After nine years of construction, a state-of-the-art telescope connected to the world’s largest camera is set to change our understanding of astronomy.
Perched atop a barren mountain in Chile’s desert region of Coquimbo, the Vera C Rubin Observatory looks out of this world, quite literally.
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With a slick futuristic frame, lodged into the groove of the mountain on Cerro Pachón, the observatory is defined by a distinctive compact shape, revolving like a dome that splinters into multiple angles.
The unusual, remote structure is the centerpiece of a $1.9bn project which will begin mapping the skyline in early 2025.
“It is a very special telescope, different from others because it will survey the night sky. It will change a lot,” said Jacques Sebag, the site’s integration and verification manager.
Using a laser pointer, Sebag points out the width of the telescope’s 8.4 meter diameter mirror, which is equipped with a state-of-the-art 3,200-megapixel camera.
It is designed to capture an unprecedented amount of astronomical data in a 10-year survey called the LSST (Heritage Space and Time Survey).
“Before, telescopes saw small areas of space, looking at very specific information for a very specific problem, but this is like a lighthouse,” he said, his hands spreading out to survey the vast celestial canopy. express. “Yes [illuminates] different parts of the sky. It is the fastest telescope ever built.”
The telescope’s distinctive design is squat and compact, allowing it to constantly shift and see changes, registering what astronomers call “the transient sky”.
Every night it will detect 10m events, from asteroid movement to supernova explosions.
“It’s a very rich data set, there’s something for almost everyone in astronomy,” said Frossie Economou, the site’s technical manager for data management.
“We will answer questions about the universe from our local neighborhood – the solar system – to the creation of time, out there in the distance.”
Construction of the observatory, named after the North American astronomer who proved the existence of dark matter, began in 2015.
The project is primarily intended to address uncertainties about dark matter and dark energy, which make up more than 70% of the universe.
Chile is home to some of the most important astronomy centers in the world. Due to the height of the Andean mountains that frame the country, and the lack of light pollution in the sparsely populated desert areas, they are true sky conditions. The Rubin site enjoys an average of 256 clean nights per year.
Once Rubin’s project is complete, Chile will become a major destination for astronomical observation, generating around 70% of the data seen from Earth by 2025.
Steve Heathcote is the director of Cerro Tololo, a neighboring observatory that conducted studies that serve as a precursor to Rubin.
The telescopes at Cerro Tololo were central to the discovery of the accelerating expansion of the universe, work that won the Nobel prize for astrophysics in 2011.
Heathcote is hopeful that the skies of Chile will once again help unlock more of the mysteries surrounding the creation of our universe.
“There’s a lot of uncertainty in the current measurements that you could fit something different,” he explained, referring to our understanding of the grand framework and the expansion of the universe. “I think with Rubin, they’re going to be able to get the errors out to the point where you can be sure.
“It could challenge Einstein’s theory of relativity. It could challenge fundamental things in physics.”
Over 10 years, the LSST will generate 60 petabytes (60,000,000 gigabytes) of data through 2m images. The UK is responsible for processing around 25% of this data.
Aprajita Verma is based at the University of Oxford and is Rubin’s international program coordinator. She refers to the LSST as “the greatest sky film ever made by mankind”.
“It’s amazing. It will change our view of survey astronomy and our understanding of the billions of objects we see.”
Excitement for the project is reverberating through the global astronomical community but is also being felt locally.
Claudia Llanquitruf has been involved in the construction of the site’s revolving dome since 2019.
She manages a company that usually deals with mining projects, located in the city of La Serena, about two hours from Rubin.
The site at Llanquitruf is a surprise.
“I know what this project means, and all the studies it will generate. It is an honor to work here.”
