Astronomers have tested the new Vera C. Rubin telescope in Chile, much like adjusting the focus and aperture on a brand-new camera. The first images covered a patch of sky the size of 60 full Moons, and immediately revealed millions of galaxies and stars. The imaging was done in various colors, from invisible ultraviolet to thermal infrared. This technique, photometry, lets you determine the composition of distant galaxies by their color, just as you can tell what a metal is by its hue. Among the stationary stars, the camera caught moving specks—93 unknown asteroids. But the real discovery lies ahead. Starting in 2026, the telescope will survey the entire sky every three nights, turning a static picture into a movie. Then we will see supernovae ignite and how invisible dark matter, like an invisible hand, bends the light.
The total volume of data from this test run is 3.5 terabytes, roughly the equivalent of 700 full-length HD movies.
In the movie 'Armageddon,' an asteroid is spotted too late. Surveys like this will help detect dangerous objects well in advance.