Vera C. Rubin Observatory Achieves First Light

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Spirals, interacting galaxies, and much more are visible in this small section of a much larger image taken of the Virgo Cluster by the Vera C. Rubin Observatory.

Spirals, interacting galaxies, and much more are visible in this cropped section of a much larger image taken of the Virgo Cluster by the Vera C. Rubin Observatory.

NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory

Funded through the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the Vera C. Rubin Observatory recently released their first light images showing astrophysical objects captured at unprecedented scale. Rubin features the world's largest digital and a mirror spanning 8.4-meters in diameter.

ITL manufactured and delivered over 100 science-grade sensors to the Rubin Observatory, including nearly half of the science camera’s imaging array. The camera’s 189 science sensors, arranged into a tight mosaic across a focal plane the size of an extra-large pizza, are supplemented by 12 additional ITL sensors which are dedicated to guiding the telescope and maintaining optimal image quality across its wide field of view.

Read the full story highlighting the Imaging Technology Lab as well as contributions from Richard F. Caris Mirror Lab.