The construction of a key tool for the telescope Vera Rubin, the legacy survey of space and time (LSST), has been completed at the California Laboratory of SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. This marks a significant milestone in the ambitious project aimed at studying the fundamental secrets of the universe. The LSST camera, with its impressive characteristics, is set to be installed in the observatory in Chile.
The camera boasts a resolution of 3.2 gigapixels, unprecedented for such technologies. With a massive 5-foot lens, the camera can distinguish objects the size of a golf ball at a distance of 15 miles, covering a section of the sky 7 times larger than a full moon. Aaron Rudman, deputy director of the Vera Rubin Observatory, believes that the detailed images captured by the camera will help unlock the secrets of the universe, particularly in understanding dark matter and dark energy.
The LSST camera, measuring 12.25 feet in length, 5.5 feet in height, and weighing in at 2800 kilograms, began its assembly nearly 9 years ago. Its complex system of three lenses and 189 PZs allows for images to be taken every 20 seconds with a 15-second exposure.
The camera is scheduled to be delivered to the observatory located in the Chilean Andes in May. Rudman anticipates logistical challenges due to the observatory’s high altitude of 9800 feet in the remote region of the attack. Scientists are hopeful that the high resolution of the LSST camera will aid in detecting gravitational lensing, a phenomenon crucial in understanding dark energy and the expansion of space.
In addition to the LSST camera, the European Space Agency is preparing to launch its Euclid space telescope to conduct similar observations from orbit. The LSST camera’s high resolution will enable the creation of a detailed map of the Milky Way, including previously indistinguishable small objects.
Moreover, the LSST camera may assist in early detection of potentially hazardous asteroids approaching Earth. However, without the technology to mitigate the threat posed by such asteroids, early detection alone may not be sufficient.