California: Following two decades of dedicated effort, scientists and engineers have successfully completed the construction of the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) camera.
In a collaborative effort with scientists from SLAC, a local laboratory in California, a team has embarked on the ambitious task of constructing the largest camera ever designed for astronomy. This groundbreaking initiative aims to enhance our understanding of the evolving night sky, the Milky Way galaxy, and our solar system.
At the heart of the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, this remarkable 3,200-megapixel camera will serve as a vital tool for researchers, enabling them to conduct unprecedented and detailed observations of the universe. Over the course of more than a decade, the observatory will gather vast amounts of data from the southern night sky, providing researchers with invaluable insights into various cosmic phenomena.
The camera itself is an engineering marvel, boasting dimensions comparable to that of a car and weighing approximately 3000 kg. Its front lens, exceeding 5 feet in diameter, stands as the largest ever constructed for astronomical purposes. This innovative technology promises to revolutionize our exploration of the cosmos, paving the way for new discoveries and advancements in astronomical research.