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Largest-ever digital camera snaps amazing photos of the universe

This image provided by the NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory shows 678 separate images taken by the observatory in just over seven hours of observing time
This image provided by the NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory shows 678 separate images taken by the observatory in just over seven hours of observing time (NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory)
  • The Vera C. Rubin Observatory, the largest digital camera ever built, released its first images of the universe, showcasing colorful nebulas, stars, and galaxies.
  • Located on a mountaintop in Chile, the observatory was funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation and U.S. Department of Energy.
  • Its initial shots include the vibrant Trifid and Lagoon nebulas, located thousands of light-years from Earth, and a group of galaxies known as the Virgo Cluster.
  • The observatory plans to survey the southern sky for the next 10 years, aiming to image 20 billion galaxies and discover new asteroids and other celestial objects.
  • Named after astronomer Vera Rubin, it is hoped the camera will yield clues about elusive entities like dark matter and dark energy.
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