Rubin Observatory News
Ever-changing Universe Revealed in First Imagery From NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory
Monday, June 23, 2025
From distant stars and galaxies to asteroids whizzing through the Solar System, this next-generation facility unveils its first imagery and brings the night sky to life like never before.
NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory Installs LSST Camera on Telescope
Tuesday, March 18, 2025
Using the largest digital camera in the world, Rubin Observatory will soon be ready to capture more data than any other observatory in history.
LSST Camera Arrives at Rubin Observatory in Chile
Friday, May 24, 2024
The largest camera ever built for astrophysics has completed the long journey from SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in California to the summit of Cerro Pachón in Chile.
SLAC Completes Construction of the Largest Digital Camera Ever Built for Astronomy
Wednesday, April 3, 2024
The 3,200-megapixel LSST Camera will help researchers better understand dark matter, dark energy and other mysteries of our universe.
Advisory Panel Issues Field-Defining Recommendations for U.S. Government Investments in Particle Physics Research
Friday, December 8, 2023
The High Energy Physics Advisory Panel has released a new Particle Physics Project Prioritization Panel (P5) report outlining research priorities in the field.
Vera C. Rubin Observatory Staff Highlight: HyeYun Park
Tuesday, August 3, 2021
Meet HyeYun Park, a postdoc working with the LSST Camera and the cosmology group at Brookhaven Lab.
Sensors of World's Largest Digital Camera Snap First 3,200-megapixel Images at SLAC
Wednesday, September 9, 2020
SLAC Lab has taken the first photos with the imaging sensors that will be integrated into the Rubin Observatory LSST camera.
Brookhaven Completes LSST's Digital Sensor Array
Monday, August 19, 2019
Brookhaven Lab has finished constructing the 3.2 gigapixel “digital film” for the world’s largest camera for astronomy.
A Miniature Camera for the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope Will Help Test the Observatory and Take First Images
Thursday, June 20, 2019
SLAC completed its work on ComCam, a commissioning device to be installed in Chile later this year.
2017's Top-10 Discoveries and Scientific Achievements at Brookhaven National Laboratory
Wednesday, December 27, 2017
From unraveling new details of the particle soup that filled the early universe to designing improvements for batteries, x-ray imaging, and even glass, this year’s Top-10 achievements at Brookhaven Lab span a spectrum of size scales and fields of science.
First Brookhaven-Built Sky-Imaging Sensor Array Arrives at SLAC
Tuesday, November 21, 2017
The first of 21 “science rafts” being assembled by a team of technicians, engineers, and scientists at Brookhaven Laboratory for a 3.2-gigapixel sky-imaging camera arrived at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory this week.
Brookhaven Lab Reaches Major Milestone for Large Synoptic Survey Telescope Project
Monday, June 26, 2017
Scientists at Brookhaven National Laboratory have completed the first “science raft” for the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST), a massive telescope designed to capture images of the universe like never before. The raft is part of the sensor array that will make up the crucial camera segment of the telescope, and its completion is the first major milestone for Brookhaven’s role in the project.
A New Ultrafast Camera for Use Across the Sciences
Wednesday, March 29, 2017
TimepixCam pulls together diverse technologies to capture ions and photons for biology, chemistry and more.
Brookhaven Lab's Peter Takacs Elected OSA Fellow
Thursday, December 15, 2016
Throughout his career, Takacs has made many important contributions to instrumentation and standards for optical measurements.
World's Most Powerful Digital Camera Sees Construction Green Light
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
The Department of Energy has approved the start of construction for a 3.2-gigapixel digital camera – the world's largest – at the heart of the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST).
Galaxy-Gazing Telescope Sensors Pass Important Vision Tests
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
Sensors for the camera of the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) just received very promising “vision” test results from physicists at Brookhaven Lab.
503rd Brookhaven Lecture Wednesday, 3/25: Looking for Light From Dark Energy With the LSST
Friday, March 20, 2015
The 2011 Nobel Prize for Physics was awarded to scientists who discovered that the universe's expansion was rapidly accelerating. Now, as collaborators helping build the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope, scientists at Brookhaven Lab are in the hunt to understand more about why.
World's Most Powerful Camera Receives Funding Approval
Friday, January 9, 2015
The 3,200-megapixel centerpiece of the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST), which will provide unprecedented details of the universe and help address some of its biggest mysteries, has received key "Critical Decision 2" approval from the DOE.
National Science Foundation To Support Start of Construction for the LSST
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
The National Science Foundation (NSF) agreed on Friday to support the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) to manage the construction of the dark-energy-hunting Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST).
Instrumentation Division Nears Production Phase for LSST Camera Sensors
Monday, July 21, 2014
Scientists in Brookhaven National Laboratory’s Instrumentation Division are conducting meticulous laboratory tests on the 201 sensors they are designing for the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope’s camera, so the project is on schedule to see “first light” in 2020, and start surveying in 2022.
Proposed Plan for the Future of U.S. Particle Physics
Thursday, May 22, 2014
The Particle Physics Project Prioritization Panel’s report recommends a strategic path forward for U.S. particle physics.
Statement on the Particle Physics Project Prioritization Panel (P5) Report to the High Energy Physics Advisory Panel (HEPAP)
Thursday, May 22, 2014
Physicists serving on the Particle Physics Project Prioritization Panel (P5)—a subcommittee of the High Energy Physics Advisory Panel (HEPAP) that advises the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation—today submitted a report with recommendations on the future of the field.
Aim for the Sky!
Friday, February 7, 2014
Design Engineer Justine Haupt of the Instrumentation Division is helping to build the world’s largest digital camera.
LSST Camera Passes Major Electronics Milestone
Monday, May 6, 2013
The Large Synoptic Survey Telescope's 3.2-gigapixel camera passes a major electronics test and comes closer to revealing the secrets of dark energy.
MEDIA ADVISORY: Physicists Explore New Frontiers in Computing
Thursday, May 17, 2012
More than 500 physicists and computational scientists from around the world meet to discuss the current state and future of high-energy and nuclear physics — and the evolutionary, or even revolutionary, development of computational tools essential to these fields.
World’s Largest Digital Camera Project Passes Critical Milestone
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
3.2 gigapixel camera moves closer to capturing the night sky and solving cosmic mysteries.
Developing Digital Film to Capture the Cosmos
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Brookhaven’s Paul O’Connor on the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope, the world’s largest digital camera, which will offer unparalleled insights into cosmic mysteries.
Illuminating Cosmology’s Dark Questions with Erin Sheldon
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Cosmologist Erin Sheldon was the first hire for the BNL group that will ultimately interpret data from the proposed Large Synoptic Survey Telescope.
Large Synoptic Survey Telescope Gets Top Ranking, “A Treasure Trove of Discovery”
Friday, August 13, 2010
A recently released report, “New Worlds and New Horizons in Astronomy and Astrophysics,” a prestigious committee convened by the National Research Council for the National Academy of Sciences ranked the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) as its top priority for the next large ground‐based astronomical facility.
Meet David Lawrence: A High School Senior Working on the LSST
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Through BNL’s Office of Educational Programs, high school senior David Lawrence works with mentors in the Instrumentation Division, earns prizes for his research.
Science Book Is Published on Large Synoptic Survey Telescope
Monday, November 2, 2009
Among editors of the recently released Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) Science Book is BNLer Michael Sivertz. Since 2006, interested Lab scientists have met to discuss LSST hot topics. BNL’s LSST involvement also includes instrumentation development and scientific research planning.
BNL Involvement With World’s Largest Wide-Angle Survey Telescope
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
BNL scientists play a key role in the instrumentation and scientific research plans for the LSST.
Giant Furnace Opens to Reveal 'Perfect' LSST Mirror Blank
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
The single-piece primary and tertiary mirror blank cast for the LSST is "perfect", say project astronomers and engineers. The Mirror Lab team opened the furnace for a close-up look at the cooled 51,900-pound mirror blank. . It is the first time a combined primary and tertiary mirror has been produced on such a large scale.
LSST Receives $30 Million from Charles Simonyi and Bill Gates
Thursday, January 3, 2008
The Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) Project, in which Brookhaven National Lab is a contributor, has announced receipt of two major gifts: $20M from the Charles Simonyi Fund for Arts and Sciences and $10M from Microsoft founder Bill Gates.
Google Joins Large Synoptic Survey Telescope Project
Monday, January 8, 2007
Google has joined a group of nineteen organizations, including Brookhaven Lab, that are building the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST). Scheduled to begin operations in 2013, the 8.4-meter LSST will be able to survey the entire visible southern sky deeply in multiple colors every week with its three-billion pixel digital camera.
Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) Receives $14.2 million National Science Foundation Design and Development Award
Friday, September 2, 2005
The Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) has received the first year of a four-year, $14.2 million award from the National Science Foundation to design and develop a world-class, 8.4-meter telescope scheduled for completion in 2012.
