UCSC prof’s work helps powerful new Vera C. Rubin Observatory capture secrets of deep space

Astronomers Spot Possible Disk in Rubin Observatory First-Look Image

Researchers have found a candidate circumstellar or protoplanetary disk in the Trifid Nebula, where few such disks have been discovered.

UCSC prof’s work helps powerful new Vera C. Rubin Observatory capture secrets of deep space

The Vera C. Rubin Observatory has released its first images, including a photo called the “Cosmic Treasure Chest,” showcasing about 10 million galaxies and marking a major milestone in an $810 million project designed to scan the sky over the next decade. UC Santa Cruz physicist Steve Ritz, who helped lead the image production, says the observatory’s unprecedented capabilities will spark discoveries scientists never imagined.