LSST camera reaches Rubin Observatory in Chile for major cosmic exploration

Written by Copernical Team Thursday, 23 May 2024 20:20

font size decrease font size increase font size
Print
Email

Write a comment

Sydney, Australia (SPX) May 23, 2024

The 3200-megapixel LSST Camera, a critical instrument for the NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory, has arrived at Cerro Pachon in Chile. Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science (DOE/SC) and the National Science Foundation (NSF), the LSST Camera will support the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST), starting in late 2025. When operational, the LSST Camera will capture de

LSST camera reaches Rubin Observatory in Chile for major cosmic exploration
by Simon Mansfield
Sydney, Australia (SPX) May 23, 2024

The 3200-megapixel LSST Camera, a critical instrument for the NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory, has arrived at Cerro Pachon in Chile. Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science (DOE/SC) and the National Science Foundation (NSF), the LSST Camera will support the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST), starting in late 2025.

When operational, the LSST Camera will capture detailed images of the southern hemisphere sky for 10 years, creating a comprehensive timelapse of our Universe. "The arrival of the cutting-edge LSST Camera in Chile brings us a huge step closer to science that will address today's most pivotal questions in astrophysics," said Kathy Turner, DOE's Program Manager for Rubin Observatory.

Built at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in Menlo Park, California, the LSST Camera is the world's largest digital camera. After two decades of development, it was completed in April and will soon be installed on the Simonyi Survey Telescope. The camera offers a field of view seven times wider than the full Moon.

The LSST Camera will enable advances in various science areas, including dark matter and dark energy exploration, mapping the Milky Way, surveying the Solar System, and studying celestial objects that change in brightness or position.

"Getting the camera to the summit was the last major piece in the puzzle," said Victor Krabbendam, Project Manager for Rubin Observatory Construction. "With all Rubin's components physically on site, we're on the home stretch towards transformative science with the LSST."

The team at SLAC led the shipping process for the car-sized camera from California to Chile, using data loggers and GPS tracking to monitor its journey. The camera traveled by air-ride-equipped transport to San Francisco airport, then by chartered flight to Santiago, Chile. "We were uncertain about the 'jump seats' we were promised on board, but they turned out to be plenty comfortable, and having two engineers on the plane was critical for loading and unloading," said Travis Lange, LSST Camera Project Manager. "The entire process was also incredibly exciting!"

Upon arrival in Santiago on May 15, the camera was transported to the base of Cerro Pachon and then driven up to the summit the next morning. The trip up the winding dirt road took about five hours. Once at the observatory, the camera was moved into a controlled environment white room for inspection and testing.

The Rubin Observatory Commissioning Team confirmed the camera's integrity upon arrival. "Our goal was to make sure the camera not only survived, but arrived in perfect condition," said Kevin Reil, Observatory Scientist at Rubin. Initial data from the journey showed the camera remained in excellent condition.

The LSST Camera is the last major component for the Rubin Observatory's Simonyi Survey Telescope. After several months of testing, it will be installed on the telescope along with Rubin's newly-coated 8.4-meter mirror and 3.4-meter secondary mirror. Updates on the progress will follow as the LSST Camera and Rubin Observatory move closer to their mission.