Rubin Observatory's 3.2-Gigapixel Camera Captures Half a Million Galaxies in COSMOS Field

The world's largest digital camera, the 3.2-gigapixel LSST Camera at the NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory, has produced a stunning new image showcasing over half a million galaxies within the COSMOS field, a region extensively studied in astronomy. This remarkable image was generated by combining hundreds of individual observations, highlighting the camera's exceptional resolution and its capability to capture immense cosmic distances. Weighing approximately 6,600 pounds and comparable in size to a small car, the LSST Camera is affixed to the 8.4-meter Simonyi Survey Telescope. It has recently commenced its primary mission, which involves capturing 700 ultra-high-resolution images nightly for the next decade. The COSMOS field, previously observed by the Hubble Space Telescope from 2003 to 2005, includes over two million identified galaxies, serving as a benchmark for current research. The Rubin Observatory plans to image COSMOS repeatedly to gather data on transient and variable phenomena, such as supernovae. Bob Blum, Director of Rubin Observatory at NSF NOIRLab, stressed the significance of these repeated observations for discoveries, while Phil Marshall, Deputy Director at SLAC, noted the field's importance as a testing ground. Image credits include NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory/NOIRLab/SLAC/AURA, with full-resolution images accessible through NOIRLab.