Is the sky the same every day? No, it isn't. The night sky changes in various ways every day. To better explore these changes in the night sky, the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Department of Energy (DOE) established the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Cerro Pachón, Chile.
Currently in the final testing phase before regular observations, the Vera Rubin Observatory is set to observe the subtle differences that change each night. This will provide a wealth of information about the marvelous universe and its diverse celestial bodies.
Equipped with a mirror larger than 8 meters in diameter, the Vera Rubin Observatory will repeat imaging of the entire visible sky every few days to discover new supernovae, potentially hazardous asteroids, faint comets, and variable stars, while mapping the vast structure of the visible universe.
The central band of our galaxy visible in the photo seems to flow beyond the newly operational observatory. This image, captured last month, is a composite of 21 images spanning across the night sky, capturing the airglow above the horizon and the small Magellanic Cloud located in the lower left.