The first deep space images from a mountaintop observatory in Chile have scientists excited for what they could soon learn about distant galaxies and dark matter.
The Vera C. Rubin Observatory boasts a 3,200-megapixel camera that can capture and transmit massive amounts of data.
Tech expert Omar Gallaga wrote about the observatory and what scientists hope to learn for CNET.
Highlights from this segment:
– The observatory’s advanced image capabilities will be capable of capturing an entire view of space, at least from Earth’s point of view, every three to four days, using the largest digital camera ever constructed, at 3,200 megapixels.
– Scientists hope to learn a lot more about dark matter, as well as supernovas, stars and asteroids.
– The National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy fund the observatory, which so far has not been affected by any government budget cuts.
– Chile was selected for the project, which cost nearly $1 billion, because of its dry night sky; this type of U.S.-funded work out of Chile dates back to the 1960s.
