Vera Rubin Observatory: Unveiling an Unprecedented Cosmic Panorama

The US$810 million Vera C. Rubin Observatory, set to begin full operations in the coming months, boasts the world's largest digital camera, capturing 3200-megapixel images revealing unprecedented cosmic detail. It will map the entire southern sky every three to four nights, observing each spot around 800 times over its ten-year lifespan, capturing millions of transient and variable astronomical events. Data will be used to study the history of the universe, dark matter, and potentially hazardous solar system objects. While not the largest telescope in terms of aperture, its unparalleled speed and wide field of view promise a revolutionary leap in astronomical discovery.