Australian scientists mark breakthrough in astronomy via images at Chile's Rubin Observatory
Melbourne, June 23 (UNI) Australian scientists are marking a significant breakthrough in astronomy as the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile unveils its first images from a revolutionary new telescope, according to the University of Melbourne.
The observatory, featuring the world's largest digital camera and a powerful eight-meter mirror, will scan the entire southern sky every few nights, capturing unprecedented detail and enabling real-time detection of cosmic events, a release from the University of Melbourne said on Monday.
The Rubin Observatory's Legacy Survey of Space and Time, named for pioneering astronomer Vera Rubin who first measured dark matter in galaxies, will gather around 20 terabytes of data each night, producing an unparalleled, high-resolution time-lapse of the universe over the next decade, the release said.
Scientists expect to receive up to 10 million alerts daily for changes in brightness or position of celestial objects, paving the way for discoveries of potentially unknown phenomena, it said.
Australian software engineers and data specialists from 15 institutions have been instrumental in developing advanced code and artificial intelligence tools for the project, it added.
"Almost 30 years after the idea was first conceived, and after a decade of construction, the telescope represents a truly exciting leap forward in astrophysics," said Rachel Webster, science lead for the Australian collaboration from the University of Melbourne.
The telescope will shed light on dark matter, dark energy and galaxy evolution, while complementing research with Australia's Square Kilometre Array, Webster said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
Rubin Observatory unveils first dazzling images of deep space
The Vera C. Rubin Observatory has just unveiled a breathtaking preview of what's to come from its 10-year cosmic survey — and it's nothing short of spectacular. The observatory released teaser images featuring the Trifid and Lagoon nebulas, vividly captured using its powerful 3,200-megapixel camera, the largest ever built for astronomy. These two star-forming regions, located thousands of light-years away in the Milky Way, offer an exquisite glimpse into the early stages of stellar birth. In just 10 hours of observations, the Rubin Observatory captured millions of galaxies and a rich array of asteroids. The data marks the beginning of the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) — an ambitious project to scan the entire southern sky every few days in near-ultraviolet, optical, and near-infrared light. Over the next decade, each part of the sky will be imaged approximately 800 times, compiling what scientists describe as a massive cosmic timelapse. The released image is a composite of 678 exposures collected over seven hours, emphasizing the observatory's capability to reveal the intricate structures of nebulas and the secrets they hold about star formation. A full reveal of Rubin's early image set is scheduled for 23 June 2025 at 15:00 UTC (11:00 EDT), hosted by the US National Science Foundation (NSF) and Department of Energy (DOE). Live viewing events are being held globally, and the event will be livestreamed on YouTube. "NSF-DOE Rubin Observatory will capture more information about our Universe than all optical telescopes throughout history combined," said Brian Stone, acting NSF director. 'It's a leap forward in exploring the dark matter and dark energy that shape our cosmos.' The Rubin Observatory is now poised to become one of the most significant astronomical instruments of our time, ushering in a new era of discovery and understanding of the Universe.
United News of India
4 hours ago
- United News of India
Australian scientists mark breakthrough in astronomy via images at Chile's Rubin Observatory
Melbourne, June 23 (UNI) Australian scientists are marking a significant breakthrough in astronomy as the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile unveils its first images from a revolutionary new telescope, according to the University of Melbourne. The observatory, featuring the world's largest digital camera and a powerful eight-meter mirror, will scan the entire southern sky every few nights, capturing unprecedented detail and enabling real-time detection of cosmic events, a release from the University of Melbourne said on Monday. The Rubin Observatory's Legacy Survey of Space and Time, named for pioneering astronomer Vera Rubin who first measured dark matter in galaxies, will gather around 20 terabytes of data each night, producing an unparalleled, high-resolution time-lapse of the universe over the next decade, the release said. Scientists expect to receive up to 10 million alerts daily for changes in brightness or position of celestial objects, paving the way for discoveries of potentially unknown phenomena, it said. Australian software engineers and data specialists from 15 institutions have been instrumental in developing advanced code and artificial intelligence tools for the project, it added. "Almost 30 years after the idea was first conceived, and after a decade of construction, the telescope represents a truly exciting leap forward in astrophysics," said Rachel Webster, science lead for the Australian collaboration from the University of Melbourne. The telescope will shed light on dark matter, dark energy and galaxy evolution, while complementing research with Australia's Square Kilometre Array, Webster said.
United News of India
4 hours ago
- United News of India
WII scientists track hyena's 85-km trek, flag corridor concerns
New Delhi, June 23 (UNI) In what wildlife biologists are calling a rare and significant observation, the Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has documented a striped hyena's 85-km dispersal from Rajaji Tiger Reserve to Corbett Tiger Reserve — the longest such journey recorded for the species in India through camera traps. The hyena (Hyaena hyaena) was first photo-captured in Rajaji National Park in March 2018, followed by a sighting in the adjoining Shyampur forest division in August, and finally in Corbett Tiger Reserve (Kalagarh) in January 2019, according to a study published in the latest issue of journal Current Science. While typical hyena movements range between 0.7 to 9.5 km, this individual covered an estimated 85 km, one of the farthest recorded for the species in India. This unusual dispersal behaviour highlights the importance of wildlife corridors that connect fragmented forest landscapes. 'This is the first documented dispersal event of a striped hyena through a camera-trap network in India,' said Dr. Ayan Sadhu, lead author of the study titled, 'Dispersal record of a striped hyena from a camera trap survey'. 'It underlines the functional connectivity between Rajaji and Corbett, and the importance of intact forest corridors in supporting such movements.' The researchers used systematic, grid-based camera trapping conducted as part of the All India Tiger Estimation 2018, covering Rajaji, Corbett, and adjoining forest divisions. The Terai Arc Landscape, where the study was conducted, is home to multiple large carnivores including tigers, leopards, and bears, and is increasingly threatened by infrastructure development, agriculture, and urban expansion, said the wildlife biologists. 'Despite facing risks such as road mortality, disease spillover from domestic animals, and human conflict, carnivores like the striped hyena are still able to disperse—provided suitable habitat corridors remain intact,' said Dr. Qamar Qureshi, senior scientist at WII and co-author of the study. The other authors included Kainat Latafat and Yadvendradev V Jhala, both from the WII. Wildlife corridors between Rajaji and Corbett are already under pressure due to linear infrastructure, including highways and railways, which fragment habitats and pose barriers to animal movement. The study highlights the utility of large-scale camera trap surveys in capturing behavioural and ecological insights for species that are otherwise difficult to study, at the same time calling for protecting and restoring wildlife corridors to facilitate movement and maintain gene flow between isolated populations. "Safeguarding such corridors is critical not only for hyenas but for the long-term survival of the entire large carnivore community in the region," it said. The study was conducted with support from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) under the Union Environment Ministry and the Uttarakhand Forest Department. UNI AJ SSP
