Posted on 06/23/2025 1:19:10 PM PDT by Red Badger
The first few images from the Rubin Observatory have dropped, and there are more coming later today.
A mosaic of 678 images taken over seven hours of observation shows the Trifid (top right in pink) and Lagoon (center) Nebulae.
Image Credit: NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory
The Vera C. Rubin Observatory has officially unveiled its first images, and truly, it is going to be as revolutionary as people expect it to be. Thanks to its incredible eye on the cosmos, which is the largest digital camera in the world, the images are absolutely breathtaking – and we can’t even share the full 1 gigabyte image!
Three images have been revealed so far, with more coming later today via a livestreamed conference. Included in the ones already revealed is a spectacular view of the Trifid and Lagoon Nebulae, star-forming regions located thousands of light-years away in the Milky Way, shown above. The delicate tendrils of gas and dust, filled with delicate details and the countless stars all around them, make this not only a revolutionary scientific image but a clear work of art.
And if you like bridges of gas and dust, wait until you see the extragalactic images below. In two images capturing different aspects of the Virgo Cluster, the Rubin Observatory has been able to show how interacting galaxies are linked by these gassy connections before they eventually merge.
This image shows another small section of NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory's total view of the Virgo cluster. Visible are two prominent spiral galaxies (lower right), three merging galaxies (upper right), several groups of distant galaxies, many stars in the Milky Way galaxy and more. Galaxies as far as the eye can see, and yet just a small section of the observatory's full view of the Virgo cluster. Image Credit: NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory
The Virgo cluster is a group of at least 1,300 galaxies, but possibly twice as many, located around 54 million light-years away. In these breathtaking images from the Rubin Observatory, we see the interactions between the members of the cluster as well as countless galaxies located far beyond the extensive group.
In the first 10 hours of operation, the Rubin Observatory has captured millions of galaxies, and thousands of new asteroids – with more insights as well as images and video being released later today in the livestreamed event. starting at 11 am ET (3pm UTC).
"NSF-DOE Rubin Observatory will capture more information about our universe than all optical telescopes throughout history combined," Brian Stone, performing the duties of the NSF director, said in a statement. "Through this remarkable scientific facility, we will explore many cosmic mysteries, including the dark matter and dark energy that permeate the universe."
This image shows a small section of NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory's total view of the Virgo cluster. Bright stars in the Milky Way galaxy shine in the foreground, and many distant galaxies are in the background. Four galaxies, one of the enormous, are connected by a bridge of gas The images shows the subtle gas tendrils that form when galaxies interact with one another. Image Credit: NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory
The observatory is named after Dr Vera C. Rubin, the American astronomer whose work was foundational in proposing the existence of a mysterious substance that permeates the universe: dark matter. The observatory will create phenomenal movies of the universe and the most detailed map of the night sky to better understand dark matter, as well as dark energy, the other hypothetical but crucial aspect of our understanding of the cosmos.
The camera snaps a 3200-megapixel image – an area of the sky seven times wider than the full Moon – every 40 seconds, with a precision equivalent to seeing a golf ball from around 25 kilometers (15 miles) away. See you later today for more cutting-edge images and science!
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED 9 hours ago
Most people associate Rene Descartes with “I think therefore I am”, but he also developed the idea of space being filled with vortices. If proof is needed of his genius for deduction, the posted images should do.
I’m saying what is says, not what it doesn’t say. Feel free to extrapolate at your own risk.
The Bible is Gods word. If any part of it is untrue, it might as well all be untrue. I believe it’s all true, even if I can’t fully understand it. If God has plans he hasn’t told us about, then we’d know nothing about it, but he says he created an Earth, and created man (on Earth, in Eden), in His image. If he created any other place with men in His image, then he chose not to tell us about that and likely intends that we shall never meet. But if He had, why do you think He would not share such an important revelation with man?
So there are multiple reasons to believe that a search for life in space is not likely to bare fruit. One, He didn’t foretell that to us. Two, it seems to me His plan was for us to have a special relationship with Him. Three, if He didn’t tell us and we did find life beyond His word in the Bible, it says that we are not unique and may not have been designed for such a special relationship with Him. Many would interpret that as there is no God or no need for God. Wouldn’t that make the socialist happy?
This is not a topic I am going to get in an argument with anyone over. It’s just belief and faith. When I was younger, I would have used the statistical argument and evolution theory to say there has to be life out there just from the astronomical odds. But evolution has since been debunked, and intelligent design is too much of an argument to believe that we came forth from bog algae. We were created. JMHO.
Self replicating information is not life.
I see a couple of Van Gogh swirls, in that Starry Starry night image.
Just posted similar!!
What is your definition of life?
I think some of the Bible is allegory.
I notice that the two spiral galaxies are opposite of each other, one spinning CW the other CCW from our perspective.................
Now I’ll be looking at all photos like that for opposite- revolving galaxies, lol.
Also, the computer virus has a creator.
It’s just ‘randomness’........In space, there is no ‘up’ or ‘down’ or ‘left’ or right’...............
....and it depends on your perspective. If you were on the ‘other side’ they would be spinning the other way............
True..😀
The Vera C. Rubin Observatory is about to change everything we know about the Universe.
In just 10 hours of test observations, it captured millions of galaxies and Milky Way stars, and discovered 2,104 never-before-seen asteroids. The amount of data it will collect in its first year alone will exceed that of all optical observatories in history -- combined.The Vera C. Rubin Observatory Will Change Astronomy Forever | 10:19
Dr Kirsten Banks | 18.6K subscribers | 35,700 views | June 23, 2025
NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory has discovered 2104 asteroids.
Credit: RubinObs/NOIRLab/SLAC/NSF/DOE/AURAVera C. Rubin Observatory captures 'swarm of new asteroids' | 1:06
VideoFromSpace | 2.01M subscribers | 190 views | June 24, 2025
Nice twofer!
· join · view topics · view or post blog · bookmark ·
· post new topic · subscribe ·Google news searches: exoplanet · exosolar · extrasolar ·
It looks like a real bad skin condition.
The telescope was mail-ordered from Acne.
Heh!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
