{"id":17166,"date":"2024-10-11T00:57:00","date_gmt":"2024-10-10T16:57:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/we-have-a-telescope-rubin-observatory-construction-team-installs-its-huge-mirror\/"},"modified":"2024-10-11T00:57:00","modified_gmt":"2024-10-10T16:57:00","slug":"we-have-a-telescope-rubin-observatory-construction-team-installs-its-huge-mirror","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/we-have-a-telescope-rubin-observatory-construction-team-installs-its-huge-mirror\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018We have a telescope!\u2019 Rubin Observatory construction team installs its huge mirror"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full-width\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"630\" height=\"354\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/241010-rubin-630x354.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-843878\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/241010-rubin-630x354.jpg 630w, https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/241010-rubin-1260x709.jpg 1260w, https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/241010-rubin-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/241010-rubin-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/241010-rubin.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 630px) 100vw, 630px\"><figcaption data-nosnippet=\"\" class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Simonyi Survey Telescope now has its mirrors and a camera in place. (Credit: Rubin Observatory)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The Vera C. Rubin Observatory\u2019s 8.4-meter Simonyi Survey Telescope in Chile has now been equipped with all three of its mirrors, plus a camera for good measure.<\/p>\n<p>Last week\u2019s installation of the telescope\u2019s combined primary\/tertiary mirror represented a major milestone in the observatory\u2019s 15-year-long design and construction effort.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have a telescope!\u201d the observatory team declared in updates posted to Instagram, Threads, BlueSky and X \/ Twitter.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<iframe id=\"twitter-widget-0\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" allowtransparency=\"true\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" class=\"\" style=\"position: static; visibility: visible; width: 0px; height: 0px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;\" title=\"X Post\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=b0yle&amp;dnt=true&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-0&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1843431147352526977&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.geekwire.com%2F2024%2Ftelescope-rubin-observatory-mirror%2F&amp;sessionId=c11a5d1d22a86707bc279d97f0c811cf2512e4f7&amp;siteScreenName=geekwire&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&amp;width=550px\" data-tweet-id=\"1843431147352526977\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\" data-twitter-extracted-i1782799082434929207=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">We have a telescope!\ud83e\udd29<\/p>\n<p>Last week, summit staff successfully installed Rubin Observatory&#8217;s combined primary\/tertiary mirror.<\/p>\n<p>With all three mirrors &amp; the commissioning camera in place, we officially\u2014for the first time in 15 years of construction\u2014have a complete telescope!\ud83e\udd73<\/p>\n<p>\ud83e\uddf5 pic.twitter.com\/RGy4YXIG0l<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 NSF-DOE Rubin Observatory (@VRubinObs) October 7, 2024<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>\n<\/figure>\n<p>The wide-field telescope, which is named after Microsoft software pioneer Charles Simonyi, is expected to shed light on mysteries ranging from the nature of dark energy and dark matter to the potential existence of an as-yet-unseen \u201cPlanet X\u201d in the far reaches of our solar system.<strong> (Update: Simonyi and his family attended the telescope\u2019s dedication ceremony on Oct. 4. Read on for details.)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The telescope\u2019s 8.4-meter-wide (27.5-foot-wide) primary\/tertiary mirror makes use of a continuous surface with different curvatures that are designed to optimize image resolution inside a relatively compact support structure. The 3.4-meter-wide (11-foot-wide) secondary mirror was installed in July.<\/p>\n<p>When it\u2019s fully up and running, the Simonyi Survey Telescope is expected to generate 20 terabytes of data every night. But the current version of the telescope isn\u2019t yet ready for prime time.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis iteration has the commissioning camera \u2014 a smaller 144-megapixel version of Rubin\u2019s huge, 3,200-megapixel camera \u2014 which is used for testing and troubleshooting,\u201d the observatory team noted. \u201cRubin\u2019s LSST Camera, the biggest digital camera in the world that will #CaptureTheCosmos in science operations, will be installed early next year after our summit staff complete the next round of tests.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Astronomers at the University of Washington are playing key roles in the Rubin Observatory\u2019s construction and operations. UW\u2019s Zeljko Ivezic is director of Rubin construction. Mario Juri\u0107 is director of UW\u2019s DiRAC Institute, which is developing software tools to deal with the torrent of data that will come from the telescope.<\/p>\n<p>James Davenport, the DiRAC Institute\u2019s associate director, said recent milestones are making the approaching start of science operations \u201cfeel so real.\u201d <\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/omny.fm\/shows\/geekwire-podcast\/software-pioneer-charles-simonyi-on-the-quest-for\/embed?style=cover&amp;image=1&amp;description=1&amp;download=1&amp;playlistImages=1&amp;playlistShare=1&amp;share=1&amp;subscribe=1&amp;background=f5f5f5&amp;foreground=94381d&amp;highlight=cb4d28\" allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write\" width=\"100%\" height=\"180\" frameborder=\"0\" title=\"Software pioneer Charles Simonyi on the quest for galactic discoveries\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>\u201cI used to work at the Apache Point Observatory, where we had \u2018only\u2019 a 3.5-meter diameter primary mirror,\u201d Davenport told GeekWire in an email. \u201cI can tell you from experience that there\u2019s nothing more terrifying than moving the BIG piece of glass in and out. This is a complicated dance, and seeing it done so smoothly on the first try with the Simonyi Survey Telescope feels like a good omen for the Rubin Observatory!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>As is usually the case for multimillion-dollar astronomy projects, it\u2019s taking longer than originally planned to finish the observatory. \u201cWhile good progress was made in many technical systems, activity progressed more slowly than scheduled,\u201d the Rubin team reported in an construction update.<\/p>\n<p>According to the update, work on the primary\/tertiary mirror was complicated by \u201cunexpected actuator damage that needed repairs.\u201d The schedule now calls for the commissioning camera to hit a \u201cFirst Photon\u201d milestone in mid-November, and for the LSST Camera to be placed onto the telescope mount assembly next February. <\/p>\n<p>If all goes according to plan, the Simonyi Survey Telescope and its LSST Camera will achieve \u201cFirst Light\u201d next June, with full-scale observations for the Rubin Observatory\u2019s 10-year Legacy Survey of Space and Time beginning sometime afterward. But don\u2019t be surprised if the plan faces further revisions down the line.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full-width\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"630\" height=\"906\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/simonyi-630x906.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-844076\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/simonyi-630x906.jpg 630w, https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/simonyi-877x1260.jpg 877w, https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/simonyi-768x1104.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/simonyi-1069x1536.jpg 1069w, https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/simonyi.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 630px) 100vw, 630px\"><figcaption data-nosnippet=\"\" class=\"wp-element-caption\">Billionaire software pioneer and philanthropist Charles Simonyi, wearing a tie, attends an Oct. 4 dedication ceremony for the Simonyi Survey Telescope with his family and other VIPs. Tony Tyson, chief scientist at the Rubin Observatory, is standing at center between Simonyi\u2019s daughter and Simonyi\u2019s wife, Lisa Simonyi. (NSF \/ NOIRLab Photo) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Update for Oct. 11:<\/strong> Charles Simonyi and his family were on hand Oct. 4 for the telescope\u2019s dedication ceremony at the Rubin Observatory Summit Facility on Cerro Pach\u00f3n in Chile.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis marvelous machine \u2014 envisioned by&nbsp;Tony Tyson&nbsp;more than 20 years ago and created by hundreds of scientists, engineers, and technicians \u2014 will do the the yeoman\u2019s work&nbsp;for thousands of astronomers around the world, leading us to countless new and exciting discoveries,\u201d Simonyi said in a news release.&nbsp;\u201cWe are greatly humbled by and proud of the naming of the Simonyi Survey Telescope.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Simonyi donated $20 million in 2008 to support the construction of the telescope\u2019s primary\/tertiary mirror and the creation of a fellowship program. That contribution, plus $10 million from Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, helped get the ball rolling for the Rubin Observatory. Since then, the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy have provided more than $800 million in federal funding for the observatory. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are thrilled to honor the Simonyi family\u2019s commitment to advancing astronomical discovery and exploration,\u201d&nbsp;said Zeljko Ivezic, director of Rubin Observatory construction.&nbsp;\u201cTheir support has been crucial for the construction of this world-class facility and for the scientists who will use the Simonyi Survey Telescope to better understand our universe.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In 2022, Simonyi pledged an annual gift of $1 million for 10 years to support early-career researchers engaged in the science that the Rubin Observatory will enable. That gift was matched by funds from NSF, creating the NSF-Simonyi Scholars program,<\/p>\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Previously: Get a wide-angle view of the Simonyi Survey Telescope<\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Simonyi Survey Telescope now has its mirrors and a camera in place. (Credit: Rubin Observatory) The Vera C. Rubin Observatory\u2019s 8.4-meter Simonyi Survey Telescope in Chile has now been equipped with all three of its mirrors, plus a camera for good measure. Last week\u2019s installation of the telescope\u2019s combined primary\/tertiary mirror represented a major [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[1661,4367,4368,4369],"class_list":["post-17166","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-astronomy","tag-lsst","tag-university-of-washington","tag-vera-rubin-observatory"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17166"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17166"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17166\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17166"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17166"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17166"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}