Rubin Observatory's decade-long sky movie begins
The universe's timelapse will be recorded with the world's largest digital camera.
1The most comprehensive sky survey in history
The Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) project at Rubin Observatory will take panoramic photos of the sky every night for 10 years. With its 8.4-meter mirror and 3.2 billion-pixel camera, it will create the most detailed 'timelapse movie' of the universe to date.
2Giant camera under Chile's clear skies
The project is located at Cerro Pachón summit (2,700m) in the Andes. Atmospheric conditions here are ideal for long-term observations. The camera is so large (64cm) - about the size of two cafeteria trays combined - capturing images a thousand times wider than smartphone cameras.
3A supernova every 30 seconds
LSST is expected to detect a new supernova (exploding star) every 30 seconds. This data will help solve cosmological mysteries like the universe's expansion rate. Over the project duration, 10 million supernovae will be observed.
4Mapping 20 billion galaxies
Capable of detecting objects up to magnitude 27.8 (500 million times fainter than visible to naked eye), LSST will catalog 20 billion galaxies. Each sky point will be scanned over 800 times to track cosmic changes.
5Pushing solar system boundaries
The project will discover 30,000 new trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs). It will also detect over 100,000 near-Earth asteroids (NEOs), providing critical data for planetary defense systems.
6Planet hunt in other galaxies
LSST could detect exoplanets even in Milky Way's satellite galaxies. These discoveries in dense star clusters will test planet formation theories.
7A new era in astronomy
This project will mark a turning point in astronomical history. Data collected over 10 years will serve scientists for centuries, fundamentally changing our understanding of the universe's dynamic nature.