Wednesday, June 25, 2025

Axiom Space Ax-4 Mission: Crew Launch on SpaceX Falcon 9 | NASA Kennedy

Axiom Space Ax-4 Mission: Crew Launch on SpaceX Falcon 9 | NASA Kennedy

The crew of Axiom Space's Ax-4 Mission successfully lifted off aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday, June 25, 2025 at 2:31 a.m. EDT. The spacecraft will dock autonomously to the space-facing port of the International Space Station’s Harmony module at approximately 7 a.m. EDT on Thursday, June 26. Veteran astronaut Peggy Whitson is commanding Ax-4. She is flying on her fifth mission to the orbiting lab. She is leading first time space flyers Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla from India and Mission Specialists Sławosz Uzanański-Wiśniewksi from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. The four private astronauts are to have a two-week stay on the orbital laboratory to conduct a wide array of space research supporting human health, space commercialization, and more. 

The Ax-4 crew includes Commander Peggy Whitson of the United States, Mission Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla of India, Mission Specialist Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of the European Space Agency (ESA)/Poland, and Mission Specialist Tibor Kapu of Hungary. 

Once docked, the Ax-4 astronauts plan to spend up to 14 days onboard implementing a full mission comprised of microgravity research, technology demonstrations, educational outreach, and media events.

The Ax-4 Mission will “realize the return” to human spaceflight for India, Poland, and Hungary, with each nation’s first government-sponsored flight in more than 40 years. While Ax-4 marks these countries' second human spaceflight mission in history, it will be the first time all three nations will execute a mission on board the International Space Station.

The Ax-4 research complement includes around 60 scientific studies and activities representing 31 countries, including the U.S., India, Poland, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Nigeria, UAE, and nations across Europe.

Ax-4 Crew


Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski (Poland)
https://www.axiomspace.com/astronaut/slawosz-uznanski



Video Credit: SpaceX/European Space Agency (ESA)
Duration: 3 minutes, 50 seconds
Release Date: June 25, 2025

#NASA #Space #ISS #AxiomSpace #Ax4Mission #Ax4 #SpaceX #Falcon9Rocket #CrewDragonSpacecraft #PeggyWhitson #UnitedStates #ShubhanshuShukla #India #BhāratGaṇarājya #SławoszUznańskiWiśniewski #Poland #Polska #TiborKapu #Hungary #Magyarország #CommercialSpace #Astronauts #Europe #NASAKennedy #Florida #STEM #Education #HD #Video

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Tuesday, June 24, 2025

The Area Around The Trifid & Lagoon Nebulae | Vera C. Rubin Observatory

The Area Around The Trifid & Lagoon Nebulae | Vera C. Rubin Observatory

This image offers a closer look at the region surrounding the Lagoon Nebula, as seen in this First Look image captured by the National Science Foundation–Department of Energy Vera C. Rubin Observatory. The Lagoon Nebula is the central pink, kidney bean-shaped area that spans much of the image. At the upper-right is the open star cluster Messier 21. Beneath that is the star-forming Trifid Nebula, known as Messier 20. Further down is the open cluster Bochum 14. Finally, to the bottom-left of the Lagoon Nebula is the globular cluster NGC 6544. 

The image was captured by the Rubin Observatory using the 3200-megapixel LSST Camera—the largest digital camera in the world. Rubin Observatory will scan the sky every night for 10 years, creating an ultra-wide, ultra-high-definition, time-lapse record of our Universe.

Learn more about the new Vera Rubin Observatory:

Image Credit: RubinObs / NOIRLab / SLAC / NSF / DOE / AURA
Release Date: June 23, 2025


#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #StarClusters #Stars #Bochum14 #M20 #M21 #Nebulae #TriffidNebula #LagoonNebula #Sagittarius #Constellation #Universe #RubinObservatory #SST #LSSTCam #CerroPachón #Chile #NOIRLab #NSF #DOE #AURA #UnitedStates #Infographic #STEM #Education

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Journey to Lagoon and Trifid Nebulae | Vera C. Rubin Observatory

Journey to Lagoon and Trifid Nebulae | Vera C. Rubin Observatory


Zoom into the region surrounding the Lagoon Nebula, as seen in this First Look image captured by NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory. The Lagoon Nebula is the central pink, kidney bean-shaped area that spans much of the image. To the upper-right is the star-forming Trifid Nebula, known as Messier 20. The Trifid Nebula is an unusual combination of an open cluster of stars, an emission nebula (the pink region), a reflection nebula (the blue region), and a dark nebula (the dark regions).


Video Credit: RubinObs / NOIRLab / SLAC / NSF / DOE / AURA
Duration: 1 minute
Release Date: June 23, 2025


#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #StarClusters #Stars #Bochum14 #M20 #M21 #Nebulae #TriffidNebula #LagoonNebula #Sagittarius #Constellation #Universe #RubinObservatory #SST #LSSTCam #CerroPachón #Chile #NOIRLab #NSF #DOE #AURA #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #UHD #Video

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Close-up: Dust Lanes of Sagittarius | Vera C. Rubin Observatory

Close-up: Dust Lanes of Sagittarius | Vera C. Rubin Observatory

This video pans across the intricate web of dust lanes and star clusters around the Trifid and Lagoon Nebulae, as imaged by the National Science Foundation–Department of Energy Vera C. Rubin Observatory. The exquisite detail in the structure of the nebulosity shown here demonstrates the exceptional quality of Rubin’s entire system—from its light-collecting power, to its sensitive camera, to its efficient data transfer and processing system.

This image was captured by the Rubin Observatory using the 3200-megapixel LSST Camera—the largest digital camera in the world. Rubin Observatory will scan the sky every night for 10 years, creating an ultra-wide, ultra-high-definition, time-lapse record of our Universe.

Learn more about the new Vera Rubin Observatory:


Video Credit: RubinObs / NOIRLab / SLAC / NSF / DOE / AURA
Duration: 1 minute
Release Date: June 23, 2025


#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #StarClusters #Stars #Nebulae #StellarNurseries #TriffidNebula #LagoonNebula #Sagittarius #Constellation #Universe #Cosmos #RubinObservatory #SST #LSSTCam #CerroPachón #Chile #NOIRLab #NSF #DOE #AURA #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #UHD #Video

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Open Star Cluster Bochum 14 in Sagittarius | Vera C. Rubin Observatory

Open Star Cluster Bochum 14 in Sagittarius | Vera C. Rubin Observatory

The open star cluster Bochum 14 as imaged by the National Science Foundation–Department of Energy Vera C. Rubin Observatory.

This image was captured by the Rubin Observatory using the 3200-megapixel LSST Camera—the largest digital camera in the world. Rubin Observatory will scan the sky every night for 10 years, creating an ultra-wide, ultra-high-definition, time-lapse record of our Universe.

Learn more about the new Vera Rubin Observatory:

Image Credit: RubinObs / NOIRLab / SLAC / NSF / DOE / AURA
Release Date: June 23, 2025


#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #StarClusters #Stars #Bochum14 #StellarNursery #Sagittarius #Constellation #Universe #Cosmos #RubinObservatory #SST #LSSTCam #CerroPachón #Chile #NOIRLab #NSF #DOE #AURA #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

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Globular Cluster Star Cluster NGC 6544 | Vera C. Rubin Observatory

Globular Star Cluster NGC 6544 in Sagittarius | Vera C. Rubin Observatory

Globular cluster NGC 6544 as imaged by the National Science Foundation–Department of Energy Vera C. Rubin Observatory. This tightly packed globular cluster is home to tens of thousands of stars. NGC 6544 is located in the western part of the constellation, on the edge of a rich star field; its location is easily recoverable as it is located just 50' towards the southeast compared to the famous Lagoon Nebula. It can also be seen with 10×50mm binoculars as a small white spot like a misty star; with a telescope of 120mm and 100× magnification a few small stars may be resolved. Telescopes from 200mm up allow resolving of dozens of dim stars.

Because its declination is rather southern, this cluster can be mainly observed by observers located in the southern hemisphere, although it is still observable even up to medium temperate latitudes. The best time for observation in the evening sky is between June and October.

NGC 6544 was observed for the first time by William Herschel in 1784. He looked at it through his 18.4 inch reflector and described it as a fairly bright and large object, circular and resolvable into stars.


Image Credit: RubinObs / NOIRLab / SLAC / NSF / DOE / AURA
Caption Credit: Wikipedia
Release Date: June 23, 2025


#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #StarClusters #Stars #NGC6544 #StellarNursery #Sagittarius #Constellation #Universe #Cosmos #RubinObservatory #SST #LSSTCam #CerroPachón #Chile #NOIRLab #NSF #DOE #AURA #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

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Open Star Cluster Messier 21 in Sagittarius | Vera C. Rubin Observatory

Open Star Cluster Messier 21 in Sagittarius | Vera C. Rubin Observatory


The open star cluster Messier 21 as imaged by the National Science Foundation–Department of Energy Vera C. Rubin Observatory. Located near the Trifid Nebula, Messier 21 is relatively young and tightly packed with small, dim stars. 

Messier 21 or M21, also designated NGC 6531 or Webb's Cross, is an open cluster of stars located to the north-east of Sagittarius in the night sky, close to the Messier objects M20 to M25 (except M24). It was discovered and cataloged by Charles Messier on June 5, 1764. This cluster is relatively young and tightly packed. A few blue giant stars have been identified in the cluster, but Messier 21 is composed mainly of small dim stars. With a magnitude of 6.5, M21 is not visible to the naked eye. However, with the smallest binoculars it can be easily spotted on a dark night. The cluster is positioned near the Trifid nebula (NGC 6514), but is not associated with that nebulosity. It forms part of the Sagittarius OB1 association.

This image was captured by the Rubin Observatory using the 3200-megapixel LSST Camera—the largest digital camera in the world. Rubin Observatory will scan the sky every night for 10 years, creating an ultra-wide, ultra-high-definition, time-lapse record of our Universe.

Learn more about the new Vera Rubin Observatory:


Image Credit: RubinObs / NOIRLab / SLAC / NSF / DOE / AURA
Caption Credit: Wikipedia
Release Date: June 23, 2025


#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Nebulae #Messier21 #M21 #NGC6531 #StarClusters #Stars #BlueStars #StellarNursery #SagittariusOB1 #Sagittarius #Constellation #Universe #Cosmos #RubinObservatory #SST #LSSTCam #CerroPachón #Chile #NOIRLab #NSF #DOE #AURA #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

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A Tour of the Region Around The Lagoon Nebula | Vera C. Rubin Observatory

A Tour of the Region Around The Lagoon Nebula | Vera C. Rubin Observatory

This video provides a tour of the region surrounding the Lagoon Nebula, as seen in this First Look image captured by the National Science Foundation–Department of Energy Vera C. Rubin Observatory. The Lagoon Nebula is the central pink, kidney bean-shaped area that spans much of the image. To the upper-right is the star-forming Trifid Nebula, known as Messier 20. The Trifid Nebula is an unusual combination of an open cluster of stars, an emission nebula (the pink region), a reflection nebula (the blue region), and a dark nebula (the dark regions).

The Lagoon Nebula (or Messier 8) is another vibrant stellar nursery glowing about 4,000 light-years away. You can actually spot the Lagoon with just a pair of binoculars or a small telescope. At its heart is a cluster of young, massive stars—their intense radiation lights up the surrounding gas and shapes the swirling clouds into intricate patterns. The Lagoon nebula provides scientists with a great place to study the earliest stages of star formation—how giant clouds collapse, how star clusters take shape, and how newborn stars start to reshape their environment.


Credit: RubinObs / NOIRLab / SLAC / NSF / DOE / AURA
Duration: 1 minute
Release Date: June 23, 2025

#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Nebulae #TriffidNebula #Messier20 #NGC6514 #LagoonNebula #NGC6523 #Messier8 #StellarNurseries #Sagittarius #Constellation #Universe #Cosmos #RubinObservatory #SST #LSSTCam #CerroPachón #Chile #NOIRLab #NSF #DOE #AURA #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #Video

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The Trifid Nebula in Sagittarius | Vera C. Rubin Observatory

The Trifid Nebula in Sagittarius  | Vera C. Rubin Observatory

The star-forming Trifid Nebula, also known as Messier 20, as imaged by the National Science Foundation–Department of Energy Vera C. Rubin Observatory. The Trifid Nebula is an unusual combination of an open cluster of stars, an emission nebula (the pink region), a reflection nebula (the blue region), and a dark nebula (the dark regions). It is located about 4,000 light-years from Earth.


Credit: RubinObs / NOIRLab / SLAC / NSF / DOE / AURA
Release Date: June 23, 2025


#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Nebulae #TriffidNebula #M20 #Messier20 #NGC6514 #Sagittarius #Constellation #Universe #Cosmos #RubinObservatory #SST #LSSTCam #CerroPachón #Chile #NOIRLab #NSF #DOE #AURA #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

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Trifid & Lagoon Nebulae in Sagittarius | Vera C. Rubin Observatory

Trifid & Lagoon Nebulae in Sagittarius | Vera C. Rubin Observatory



In this immense image, the National Science Foundation–Department of Energy Vera C. Rubin Observatory offers a brand new view of two old friends: the Trifid and Lagoon Nebulae. The image provides a demonstration of what makes Rubin unique: its combination of an extremely wide field of view and the speed that allows it to take lots of big images in a very short time. Combining images reveals subtle details in the clouds of gas and dust. The more images we can combine, the more detail we see!

This almost 5-gigapixel image combines 678 exposures taken in just 7.2 hours of observing time, and was composed from about two trillion pixels of data in total. No other observatory is capable of producing an image of such a wide area so quickly and with this much depth. 

The Trifid Nebula (also referred to as Messier 20) is a standout in the sky. It is a bright, colorful cloud of gas and dust about 5,000 light-years away in the constellation Sagittarius. What makes it especially striking is the combination of features packed into one place: a glowing pink emission nebula, a cool blue reflection nebula, and dark dust lanes that split it into three sections—hence the name “Trifid.” Inside, new stars are forming and blasting out strong winds and radiation, carving up the gas around them. It gives us a dramatic glimpse at how massive stars shape their surroundings even as they’re being born.

Below the Trifid Nebula in this image is the Lagoon Nebula (or Messier 8), another vibrant stellar nursery glowing about 4,000 light-years away. You can actually spot the Lagoon with just a pair of binoculars or a small telescope. At its heart is a cluster of young, massive stars—their intense radiation lights up the surrounding gas and shapes the swirling clouds into intricate patterns. The Lagoon Nebula provides scientists with a great place to study the earliest stages of star formation—how giant clouds collapse, how star clusters take shape, and how newborn stars start to reshape their environment. 

This expansive image of Trifid and Lagoon together exposes an intricate web of dust lanes and star clusters that make this part of the Milky Way come alive with cosmic activity. The exquisite detail in the structure of the nebulosity shown here  demonstrates the exceptional quality of Rubin’s entire system—from its light-collecting power, to its sensitive camera, to its efficient data transfer and processing system. Over ten years, Rubin Observatory will take millions of images and will image each place in the sky, including this one, about 800 times. 

Every time we look at the Universe in a new way, we discover new things we never could have predicted—and with Rubin we will see more than we ever have before.

The image was captured by Rubin Observatory using the 3200-megapixel LSST Camera—the largest digital camera in the world. 


Credit: RubinObs / NOIRLab / SLAC / NSF / DOE / AURA
Release Date: June 23, 2025

#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Nebulae #TriffidNebula #Messier20 #NGC6514 #LagoonNebula #NGC6523 #Messier8 #Sagittarius #Constellation #Universe #Cosmos #RubinObservatory #SST #LSSTCam #CerroPachón #Chile #NOIRLab #NSF #DOE #AURA #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

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Atlas V Rocket Liftoff: Amazon Project Kuiper Satellites | United Launch Alliance

Atlas V Rocket Liftoff: Amazon Project Kuiper Satellites | United Launch Alliance

A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket was launched at 6:54 a.m. EDT (1054 UTC), June 23, 2025, from Cape Canaveral, Florida, with the second grouping of satellites for Amazon's Project Kuiper broadband constellation. The Kuiper payloads are the heaviest ever carried by Atlas V at 34,000 pounds (15,400 kg). The satellites rode to space attached to a special dispensing tower and were release at predetermined intervals. This launch featured the most separation events ever performed in a single Atlas launch.

Project Kuiper is Amazon's low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite broadband network. Its mission is to provide fast, reliable Internet access to customers around the world, including those in unserved and underserved communities, using a constellation of more than 3,200 LEO satellites.


Video Credit: United Launch Alliance (ULA)
Duration: 19 seconds
Capture Date: June 23, 2025


#NASA #Space #Earth #Satellites #LEO #Amazon #ProjectKuiper #Kuiper2Mission #SatelliteConstellations #CommunicationsSatellites #BroadbandInternetServices #AtlasVRocket #ULA #CapeCanaveral #Florida #UnitedStates #CommercialSpace #STEM #Education #HD #Video

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Atlas V Rocket Launch of Amazon Project Kuiper Satellites | United Launch Alliance

Atlas V Rocket Launch of Amazon Project Kuiper Satellites | United Launch Alliance








A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket was launched at 6:54 a.m. EDT (1054 UTC), June 23, 2025, from Cape Canaveral, Florida, with the second grouping of satellites for Amazon's Project Kuiper broadband constellation. The Kuiper payloads are the heaviest ever carried by Atlas V at 34,000 pounds (15,400 kg). The satellites rode to space attached to a special dispensing tower and were release at predetermined intervals. This launch featured the most separation events ever performed in a single Atlas launch.

Project Kuiper is Amazon's low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite broadband network. Its mission is to provide fast, reliable Internet access to customers around the world, including those in unserved and underserved communities, using a constellation of more than 3,200 LEO satellites.


Image Credit: United Launch Alliance (ULA)
Capture Date: June 23, 2025


#NASA #Space #Earth #Satellites #LEO #Amazon #ProjectKuiper #Kuiper2Mission #SatelliteConstellations #CommunicationsSatellites #BroadbandInternetServices #AtlasVRocket #ULA #CapeCanaveral #Florida #UnitedStates #CommercialSpace #STEM #Education

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Monday, June 23, 2025

Spiral Galaxy NGC 4378 in The Virgo Galaxy Cluster | Vera C. Rubin Observatory

Spiral Galaxy NGC 4378 in The Virgo Galaxy Cluster | Vera C. Rubin Observatory


Spiral galaxy NGC 4378 appears in this excerpt from a First Look image captured by the National Science Foundation–Department of Energy Vera C. Rubin Observatory. This galaxy is notable for having just a single spiral arm. Moreover, NGC 4378 is a Seyfert II Galaxy. It has a quasar-like nucleus with a very high surface brightness. NGC 4378's spectra reveals strong, high-ionization emission lines, but unlike quasars, the host galaxy is clearly detectable.

Learn more about the new Vera Rubin Observatory:


Credit: RubinObs / NOIRLab / SLAC / NSF / DOE / AURA/R. Proctor
Release Date: June 23, 2025

#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Galaxies #GalaxyClusters #VirgoCluster #NGC4378 #SpiralGalaxy #SeyfertIIGalaxy #Virgo #ComaBerenices #Constellations #Universe #Cosmos #RubinObservatory #SST #LSSTCam #CerroPachón #Chile #NOIRLab #NSF #DOE #AURA #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

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Journey to The Virgo Cluster | Vera C. Rubin Observatory

Journey to The Virgo Cluster | Vera C. Rubin Observatory


Zoom into the National Science Foundation–Department of Energy Vera C. Rubin Observatory's 14-square-degree view of the Virgo Cluster, a large collection of galaxies about 55 million light-years away from Earth. This immense view contains about 10 million galaxies—just 0.05% of the roughly 20 billion galaxies Rubin will image during its 10-year Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST).


Credit: RubinObs / NOIRLab / SLAC / NSF / DOE / AURA/R. Proctor
Star Map: E. Slawik/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/M. Zamani. Constellation figures based on those developed for the International Astronomical Union (IAU) by Alan MacRobert of Sky and Telescope magazine (Roger Sinnott and Rick Fienberg).
Duration: 1 minute
Release Date: June 23, 2025

#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Galaxies #GalaxyClusters #VirgoCluster #Virgo #ComaBerenices #Constellations #Universe #RubinObservatory #SST #LSSTCam #CerroPachón #Chile #NOIRLab #NSF #DOE #AURA #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #UHD #Video

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Virgo Galaxy Cluster: Wide-field view | Introducing the Vera C. Rubin Observatory

Virgo Galaxy Cluster: Wide-field view | Introducing the Vera C. Rubin Observatory


Introducing the first riches from the National Science Foundation–Department of Energy Vera C. Rubin Observatory's cosmic treasure chest, a wealth of data that will help scientists make countless new discoveries about our Universe. This image, one of the first released by Rubin Observatory, exposes a Universe teeming with stars and galaxies—transforming seemingly empty, inky-black pockets of space into glittering tapestries for the first time. Only Rubin can quickly produce such large images with this much color and richness.

Here, Rubin’s view is focused on the southern region of the Virgo Cluster, about 55 million light-years away from Earth and the nearest large collection of galaxies to our own Milky Way. 

What's in this image?
The image offers a stunning variety of objects—from bright stars ranging from blue to red in color, to nearby blue spiral galaxies, to distant red galaxy groups—demonstrating the broad range of science made possible by Rubin data. During the 10-year Legacy Survey of Space and Time, scientists around the world will access Rubin’s treasure trove of data to address questions like: How did the Milky Way form? What makes up the 95% of the Universe we can’t see? What will a detailed inventory of Solar System objects reveal? What will we learn from watching hundreds of millions of changes in the night sky over 10 years? 

Apart from a few foreground stars in our own Milky Way, the myriad specks of light captured here make up a rich tapestry of about 10 million galaxies— just 0.05%  of the roughly 20 billion galaxies Rubin will image during its 10-year Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST). By the end of the survey, Rubin will have revealed this level of detail across the entire southern sky.

How was the image created?
In addition to showcasing the richness and variety of celestial light in (this area), this deep, 15-square-degree image provides a sample of the way Rubin will observe during the main survey. Each individual exposure taken by Rubin Observatory covers 10 square degrees, (about 45 full moons). Combining multiple exposures of the same place on the sky—taken at different times and with different color filters—reveals extremely faint details that would not be captured in a single exposure. The 1185 exposures combined to make this image were taken over a period of just 7 nights. Rubin Observatory is the only astronomical tool in existence that can assemble an image this wide and deep so quickly.

The bright stars scattered throughout this image belong to our home galaxy. By tracking their positions, brightness, and for some, even their motion over time, Rubin will help map the Milky Way in extraordinary detail—revealing its structure, history, and how it has evolved over time. With observations of never-before-seen stellar streams, dwarf galaxies, and more, Rubin data will help scientists investigate the dynamic past of our cosmic neighborhood.

What's coming next
This image also offers a starting point for watching the ever-changing sky. Rubin will return to this same region many times over the coming decade, catching brief but important events like supernova explosions and the flares from stars as they are consumed by hungry black holes. Rubin’s software will automatically compare new images to templates built from previous images, identifying up to 10 million changes each night and providing insight into short-lived cosmic phenomena and objects in motion.

On the largest scales, scientists will use Rubin’s observations of galaxies like those seen here to investigate two of the Universe’s biggest mysteries: dark matter and dark energy. By mapping the shapes and distributions of galaxies over time, scientists can infer the underlying structure of dark matter and observe how the expansion of the Universe is being influenced by dark energy.

This image was captured by the Rubin Observatory using the 3200-megapixel LSST Camera—the largest digital camera in the world. Rubin Observatory will scan the sky every night for 10 years, creating an ultra-wide, ultra-high-definition, time-lapse record of our Universe.


Credit: RubinObs / NOIRLab / SLAC / NSF / DOE / AURA
Release Date: June 23, 2025


#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Galaxies #GalaxyClusters #VirgoCluster #Virgo #ComaBerenices #Constellations #Universe #RubinObservatory #SST #LSSTCam #CerroPachón #Chile #NOIRLab #NSF #DOE #AURA #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

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The Virgo Galaxy Cluster Treasure Chest: Part 2 | Vera C. Rubin Observatory

The Virgo Galaxy Cluster Treasure Chest: Part 2 | Vera C. Rubin Observatory

This animation brings the National Science Foundation–Department of Energy Vera C. Rubin Observatory's glittering view of the sky to life, starting with a closeup of two galaxies, one (left) ancient and quiet, and the other (right) a bright pinwheel of newly-formed stars. 

The view widens, revealing more galaxies in an astonishing array of different shapes, sizes, and colors. Zooming out further, we see a Universe teeming with stars and galaxies. We are looking at Rubin’s 14-square-degree view of the Virgo Cluster, a large collection of galaxies about 55 million light-years away from Earth. This immense view contains about 10 million galaxies—just 0.05%  of the roughly 20 billion galaxies Rubin will image during its 10-year Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST). 

The video zooms in to focus on Messier 49, the largest galaxy in the image, and then pans up to a busy region where a galaxy triple merger, two large spiral galaxies, and a dense galaxy cluster all reside among the scatter of stars and distant galaxies. These views highlight the detail Rubin reveals in its images while simultaneously capturing huge swaths of the sky. Only Rubin Observatory can produce such large images with this much color and richness so quickly—the observations in this animation were collected in just 7 nights. 

The image featured in this animation was captured by Rubin Observatory using the 3200-megapixel LSST Camera—the largest digital camera in the world. 


Credit: RubinObs / NOIRLab / SLAC / NSF / DOE / AURA
Duration: 1 minute
Release Date: June 23, 2025

#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Galaxies #GalaxyClusters #VirgoCluster #M49 #EllipticalGalaxy #Virgo #ComaBerenices #Constellations #Universe #RubinObservatory #SST #LSSTCam #CerroPachón #Chile #NOIRLab #NSF #DOE #AURA #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #Animation #UHD #Video

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