A section of the Virgo Cluster Image from the Vera Rubin Observatory released on June 23rd 2025

A New Eye on the Universe: First Light from the
Vera Rubin Observatory

with Dennis Crabtree, Ph.D.,

Emeritus Director, Dominion Astrophysical Observatory

FDAO Board Member

The Vera Rubin Observatory represents a transformative step in ground-based astronomy, designed to conduct the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST). This presentation explores the telescope’s groundbreaking design—including its 3.2-gigapixel camera and rapid, wide-field imaging capabilities—and the novel survey strategies it will employ. With its First Look images, Rubin offers a tantalizing glimpse into the scientific potential of this facility: from mapping billions of galaxies to probing dark matter and detecting transient events in near real time. These initial images showcase the extraordinary detail and scale of data Rubin will provide, heralding a new era in sky exploration.  

Tickets will be available Monday at 5pm on this page 12 days prior to the event.