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A fresh chapter in astronomy and astrophysics commenced on Monday when the inaugural images taken by the NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory were unveiled, showcasing the remarkable capabilities of the new telescope and the largest digital camera worldwide.

Officials in Washington, D.C., presented large, ultra-high-definition images and videos, along with the identification of thousands of new asteroids. Astronomers and researchers globally joined in at viewing events, including sessions at the University of Washington’s Planetarium.

The visuals provide a glimpse into the most thorough census of the solar system that scientists have ever undertaken, along with insight into the exponential growth in findings and comprehension of the cosmos that this new telescope will enable.

UW was among the founding contributors to Rubin’s ambitious project and will play a vital role in interpreting these discoveries. Scientists and engineers from UW have been integral in championing the initiative, designing the observatory, and creating the software to process the extensive data emitted from Rubin’s telescope, including algorithms for asteroid detection.

 

“The faculty at the University of Washington recognized early that ambitious thinking about Rubin’s potential and spearheading scientific efforts would enhance our understanding of the solar system and drive innovation in data science, not just in astrophysics but across various fields,” stated UW Provost Tricia R. Serio. “We frequently discuss the influence the UW is making both locally and globally. This endeavor will catapult us deep into space, revealing insights about the very beginnings of the universe while setting the groundwork for future discoveries we currently cannot even envision.”

From its vantage point in the Chilean Andes, Rubin’s Simonyi Survey Telescope will survey the heavens using its 8.4-meter mirror and colossal 3,200-megapixel camera, the largest digital camera globally. The telescope’s field of view, the velocity and frequency of observations, along with the extensive area to be covered, necessitated a new type of discovery algorithm to effectively interpret the vast amounts of data collected. Scientists and researchers at UW collaborated across disciplines to advance data science and computer science to meet Rubin’s requirements.

In 2017, the UW—bolstered by initial support from the Charles and Lisa Simonyi Fund for Arts and Sciences—established the Institute for Data Intensive Research for Astrophysics & Cosmology, or DiRAC. This Institute, part of the College of Arts & Sciences, aspires to serve as an interdisciplinary nexus to tackle fundamental queries regarding the origins and development of the cosmos. Leaders acknowledged that astrophysics’ future depended on employing software as the primary instrument for this exploration. Paired with UW’s astronomy program and its strong ties to the tech community in the Pacific Northwest, DiRAC has established a global presence in pursuit of new findings.

As the Rubin embarks on a decade-long mission to execute the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST), software developed at UW will be crucial as scientists enhance their comprehension of the cosmos and the origins of the solar system. Faculty, students, and staff from UW have significantly contributed to the development of this new facility. They have also played an instrumental role in crafting the algorithms that maintain the clarity of telescope images and in programming the systems for mapping the solar system and identifying the most energetic and rare phenomena within what astrophysicists term the “time-variable universe.” UW’s Zeljko Ivezic, an astronomy professor, serves as the director of the federally-funded Rubin Construction Project. 

In contrast to other telescopes—which tend to focus and “zoom in” on select objects—Rubin possesses the unique capacity to rapidly and repeatedly scan the entire visible sky. 

“Rubin has an unmatched ability to capture the cosmos,” remarked Andrew Connolly, a professor of astronomy and director of UW’s eScience Institute. He also serves as the co-principal investigator for the Schmidt Sciences-backed LSST Interdisciplinary Network for Collaboration and Computing (LINCC) Frameworks program, which aims to develop cutting-edge analysis techniques that can accommodate Rubin’s scale and complexity.

“Rubin will provide the largest cosmic map ever created: tens of billions of galaxies, billions of stars, and millions of new small bodies in our solar system. It represents a monumental data analysis initiative,” Connolly explained. 

For each celestial object that Rubin observes, there will be much more than a static picture; the technology will generate a thousand-frame video: trillions of measurements for billions of objects, stated Eric Bellm, a research associate professor and the science lead for Rubin’s time-domain software team.

“With this data, researchers will gain richer insights into the universe, document its evolution, and explore topics ranging from hazardous asteroids to the enigmas of dark energy,” Bellm stated.

For instance, UW’s team contributed to the creation of simulation software that anticipates Rubin’s discoveries. The research predicts that the telescope will map over 5 million main-belt asteroids,
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127,000 adjacent-Earth entities, 109,000 Trojan asteroids that share the orbit of Jupiter, 37,000 trans-Neptunian entities, and roughly 2,000 Centaurs, or orbit-crossing entities.

These entities, depicted in vibrant hues and with more detail than ever before, assist in narrating the tale of the solar system’s beginnings, stated Mario Juric, a scholar of astronomy and the primary investigator of UW’s Rubin team.

Juric mentioned that Rubin will aid in resolving some essential queries: How were the planets created? Is there an undiscovered planet lurking in the far reaches of our solar system? Did comets deliver water to Earth? Or could it be asteroids? And are there any that could potentially collide with us today?

“The initial observation we present today offers a preview of the transformative capabilities Rubin will deliver to address inquiries such as these,” Juric remarked.

The efforts supporting the Rubin Observatory have not been confined to UW faculty alone. Many undergraduate and graduate students from UW have participated actively, contributing to significant journal publications, creating simulation applications, and coding intricate software.

Exposure to the LSST has effectively prepared students for success after graduation, whether they seek employment in industry or pursue higher academic qualifications.

“Crafting cloud-based analytical systems or constructing pipelines to handle extensive imaging data are competencies that enable one to conduct not only cutting-edge astronomy but also tackle any data-intensive challenges,” said Steven Stetzler, who recently finished his doctorate at UW and is now in a postdoctoral role at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

For further details, reach out to Juric at [email protected] or James Davenport at [email protected].

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