First pictures captured by the world's largest digital camera released: 3,200-megapixel images reveal cosmic beauty
The world's most powerful digital camera has just delivered its first images, and they are nothing short of spectacular. The 3,200-megapixel
Legacy Survey of Space and Time
(
LSST
) camera, stationed at the
Vera C. Rubin Observatory
in Chile, has revealed cosmic scenes in stunning detail never seen before. Capturing vast swathes of the night sky, the camera unveiled breathtaking views of star-forming nebulae and massive galaxy clusters. This groundbreaking instrument is set to photograph the entire visible sky every three days for a decade, offering a revolutionary time-lapse view of our ever-evolving universe.
Debut images taken by world's largest digital camera 'LSST'
The first set of released images showcases the Trifid and Lagoon nebulae glowing in vivid hues of pink and orange, captured through 678 exposures taken over just seven hours. These star-forming regions lie thousands of light-years away within the Milky Way. Another image captures the Virgo Cluster, revealing a tapestry of spiral and merging galaxies alongside foreground stars. This cluster is about 100 billion times larger than the Milky Way, demonstrating the LSST's incredible observational power.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
2025: Steel Suppliers From Mexico At Lowest Prices (Take A Look)
Steel Suppliers | search ads
Search Now
Undo
LSST: World's largest digital camera with cosmic ambitions
The LSST camera holds the title of the world's largest and highest-resolution digital camera. While modern smartphones feature cameras with up to 50 megapixels, the LSST boasts an extraordinary 3,200 megapixels. It is as large as a small car and weighs a colossal 2,800 kg. Built to observe the sky with unmatched clarity, the camera is housed at the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, located atop a mountain in Chile. This site was chosen for its dark skies and dry atmosphere, which are ideal for deep-space observation.
A mission to map the universe
Over the next ten years, the LSST camera will take 1,000 images every night, creating a detailed catalogue of approximately 20 billion galaxies. Scientists aim to build the most comprehensive, ultra-wide, high-resolution time-lapse of the night sky ever attempted. The project will allow researchers to track changes in celestial objects over time, from exploding stars and drifting asteroids to the mysterious behavior of dark matter.
What it means for the future of space science
These high-resolution images are not just visually stunning, they are scientifically revolutionary. Experts believe the LSST may help uncover the structure of the Milky Way, understand dark energy, and even locate a long-theorized ninth planet in our Solar System. The Vera C. Rubin Observatory is set to transform our understanding of the universe, capturing not just static snapshots but a dynamic record of a living cosmos in motion.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
33 minutes ago
- Time of India
Researchers bring 2,500-year-old skulls from Tamil Nadu into shape, reconstruct faces
Archeologists and carbon dat9ing had confirmed one of the old civilizations at Keeladi, 12km southeast of Madurai in Tamil Nadu, in 6th century BCE. Now, the paces of at least two men who walked on the planet 2,500 years ago have been reconstructed, TOI reported. The researchers at Madurai Kamraj University describe the facial features as South Indian with traces of ancestral West Eurasian (Iranian) hunter-gatherers and ancestral Austro-Asiatic people. The research was conducted with the help of Liverpool John Moores University in the UK. The skulls were found at Kondagai, a burial site around 800m from the main excavation site. Further DNA studies are needed to pinpoint the ancestry based on genetics, the researchers added. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Beyond Text Generation: An AI Tool That Helps You Write Better Grammarly Install Now 'We used a computer-assisted 3D facial reconstruction system to rebuild the facial musculature and estimate facial features following anatomical and anthropometrical standards,' said Professor Caroline Wilkinson, director of Face Lab, Liverpool John Moores University, UK. The lower halves of the faces were more guesstimate; reconstruction of the upper halves was more accurate. 'As the lower jaws of the skulls were missing, we used orthodontic standards to estimate the shapes of the mandibles from cranial measurements and planes,' Prof Wilkinson told TOI. The facial reconstruction was done using forensic guidelines created from the study of clinical images of living people. Following the CT scan images of the skulls, the researchers estimated the tissue depth at various points of the skulls following published data of modern south Indians. Live Events They then used digital sculpting to recreate muscle, fat and skin while the placement and size of facial features (eyes, nose and mouth) were estimated based on the skulls' characteristics and anatomical relationships. The colours and texture to the skin, hair and eyes were assigned using a photographic database. 'It is 80% science and 20% art,' said professor G Kumaresan, department of genetics, Madurai Kamaraj University , which scanned and sent images of the skulls to Liverpool. He said the reconstructed faces, along with DNA data, will help trace the ancestry of Tamils who lived in the Sangam age. In May, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) asked its archaeologist K Amarnath Ramakrishna, who unearthed the Sangam age brick structure at Keeladi in 2015-16 and dated the site to 8th century BCE, to revise his report quoting unnamed experts who said it could be no older than the 3rd century BCE. The site has been at a tussle between the Centre and the state. The Tamil Nadu state archaeology department took over the excavation from ASI in 2018 following a court order. IT has since retrieved 29 radiocarbon dates between 6th century BCE and 2nd century CE at Keeladi. Researchers from Madurai Kamaraj University are analysing DNA from the Kondagai urns in collaboration with the department of genetics at Harvard University in the US. 'Work is in progress to obtain a large number of DNA markers and compare them with global reference populations to understand the routes of migration and admixture of the ancient inhabitants of Kondagai and Keeladi,' Kumaresan said. Most of the skeletons found at the burial ground were of people aged around 50 years, researchers said. 'There are many criteria such as dental wear patterns, expression of sutural lines, presence of arthritic lesions and general size of the bone that can tell us about age,' said anthropologist Veena Mushrif Tripathy from Deccan College in Pune. She studied the bone remains at Kondagai and Kodumanal. 'The stature estimation is feasible for only 11 skeleton remains at Kondagai. Though it is insufficient to measure the height of the entire Kondagai population, the average height of males was 170.82cm (5ft 7') while females was 157.74 cm (5ft 2'), which is comparable to Kodumanal where stature estimation was conducted on five skeletal remains,' she added. Researchers identify the sex of the skeleton remains based on pelvic bone and skull morphology. 'Though reconstructing faces is common throughout the world, in South India, we have attempted it for the first time at Keeladi,' said archaeologist K Rajan, advisor to the Tamil Nadu department of archaeology.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Revealed: Faces of Keeladi men; 3D recon by UK lab and researchers brings 2,500-year-old skulls from Tamil Nadu into shape
FIRST LOOK: These faces are predominantly south Indian with a touch of West Eurasian and Austro-Asiatic characteristics A rchaeological excavations and carbon dating point to one of the oldest civilizations thriving at Keeladi, 12km southeast of Madurai in Tamil Nadu, in 6th century BCE. Now, they've put faces to at least two men who walked this earth some 2,500 years ago. South Indian with traces of ancestral West Eurasian (Iranian) hunter-gatherers and ancestral Austro-Asiatic people — that's how researchers at Madurai Kamaraj University describe the facial features reconstructed on two skulls with help from Liverpool John Moores University in the UK. The skulls were found at Kondagai, a burial site around 800m from the main excavation site. Further DNA studies are needed to pinpoint the ancestry based on genetics, they say. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai 'We used a computer-assisted 3D facial reconstruction system to rebuild the facial musculature and estimate facial features following anatomical and anthropometrical standards,' said Professor Caroline Wilkinson, director of Face Lab, Liverpool John Moores University, UK. The lower halves of the faces were more guesstimate; reconstruction of the upper halves was more accurate. 'As the lower jaws of the skulls were missing, we used orthodontic standards to estimate the shapes of the mandibles from cranial measurements and planes,' said Prof Wilkinson. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 境界のないゲームを発見する BuzzDaily Winners Undo Researchers used forensic guidelines for facial reconstruction created from the study of clinical images of living people. After obtaining CT scanned images of the skulls from Kondagai, they estimated the tissue depth at various points of the skulls following published data of modern south Indians. 'It is 80% science and 20% art' They used digital sculpting to recreate muscle, fat and skin while the placement and size of facial features (eyes, nose and mouth) were estimated based on the skulls' characteristics and anatomical relationships. Using a photographic database, researchers assigned colours and textures for the skin, hair and eyes. 'It is 80% science and 20% art,' said professor G Kumaresan, department of genetics, Madurai Kamaraj University, which scanned and sent images of the skulls to Liverpool. He said the reconstructed faces, along with DNA data, will help trace the ancestry of Tamils who lived in the Sangam age. Keeladi has been at the centre of a tussle between the Union and state govts over its antiquity. Last month, the Archaeological Survey of India asked its archaeologist K Amarnath Ramakrishna, who unearthed the Sangam age brick structure at Keeladi in 2015-16 and dated the site to 8th century BCE, to revise his report quoting unnamed experts who said it could be no older than the 3rd century BCE. The Tamil Nadu state archaeology department, which took over the excavation from ASI in 2018 after the courts intervened, has since obtained 29 radiocarbon dates between 6th century BCE and 2nd century CE at Keeladi. Researchers from Madurai Kamaraj University are analysing DNA from the Kondagai urns in collaboration with the department of genetics at Harvard University in the US. 'Work is in progress to obtain a large number of DNA markers and compare them with global reference populations to understand the routes of migration and admixture of the ancient inhabitants of Kondagai and Keeladi,' Kumaresan said. After studying the contents of the burial urns excavated from Kondagai, researchers estimated that most of the skeletal remains were of people aged around 50 years. 'There are many criteria such as dental wear patterns, expression of sutural lines, presence of arthritic lesions and general size of the bone that can tell us about age,' said anthropologist Veena Mushrif Tripathy from Deccan College in Pune. She studied the bone remains at Kondagai and Kodumanal. 'The stature estimation is feasible for only 11 skeleton remains at Kondagai. Though it is insufficient to measure the height of the entire Kondagai population, the average height of males was 170.82cm (5ft 7') while females was 157.74 cm (5ft 2'), which is comparable to Kodumanal where stature estimation was conducted on five skeletal remains,' she added. Researchers identify the sex of the skeleton remains based on pelvic bone and skull morphology. 'Though reconstructing faces is common throughout the world, in South India, we have attempted it for the first time at Keeladi,' said archaeologist K Rajan, advisor to the Tamil Nadu department of archaeology.
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Time of India
'You may be far, but hearts of 140cr Indians beat with you, it's start of new era': PM Modi to Shukla on ISS
NEW DELHI: 'Earth looks borderless and gives feeling of oneness, and Bharat looks big from space,' Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla told PM Narendra Modi on Saturday during his first interaction with the PM through a video link from the International Space Station while 'orbiting Earth at an altitude of 400 km". Cheering the astronaut, Modi told him that 'you may be far from us but the hearts of 140 crore Indians beat with you'. 'The first thing I saw was Earth — it looks perfectly unified. No borders are visible. India looks so large from here, far more prominent than on a map. From up here, there are no countries, no divisions — just one home. That is our ethos: unity in diversity. Just a while ago, when I saw from the window of ISS, I could see Hawaii,' Group Captain Shukla told the PM while informing him, 'I have hoisted the tricolour on ISS. India has reached ISS. ' Modi said Shukla's name carries the word 'shubh' (meaning auspicious) and that his journey marked the auspicious 'beginning of a new era'. The Indian astronaut told the PM that his space sojourn was 'not my journey alone but also our country's'. 'We trained for a year and I learnt about different after coming here, everything even small things are different because there is no gravity in by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Livguard Lithium-X: The Future of Power Backup Livguard Shop Now Undo here is a big challenge...I can even sleep on the roof. It takes some time to get used to this environment,' Shukla told the PM, while adding, 'Right now, we are travelling at a speed of 28,000 kmph and I am talking to you with my legs tied. ' 'This speed reflects how fast our nation is progressing and now, we must go even beyond this,' he said. The astronaut said the space station orbits Earth 16 times a day and that he is privileged to witness 16 sunrises and 16 sunsets every day. While referring the astronaut as 'Shux', PM gave him 'homework', telling him to learn as much as possible because the lessons learnt from this Axiom-4 mission 'will have to be extensively used in the Gaganyaan mission , our own Bharatiya Antariksh Station and also for landing an Indian on the Moon.' Shukla told Modi that he is 'absorbing experiences at ISS like a sponge'. When the PM asked about Indian delicacies he carried to space and whether he shared them with his space mates, Shukla said he is carrying 'gajar ka halwa, moong dal halwa, and aamras into orbit'. 'I wanted my fellow crew members from other countries to taste India's heritage. We all sat together and enjoyed it. They loved it,' Shukla said. Shukla shared his reflections from space — on science, struggle, and the boundless dreams of a rising nation. The call was more than ceremonial. It was a glimpse into how India's spacefaring ambitions have matured. Modi described Shukla's journey not as a solitary voyage but as India's own orbit of progress. 'When I was a child, I never imagined I could become an astronaut. But today, modern India enables the realisation of such dreams,' Shukla said. When asked by Modi about microgravity tests he will carry out on ISS, especially from the medicine and agriculture sectors, Shukla said, he 'will do seven experiments'. 'Today, I am going to do a test on stem cells. I am doing a test on supplements to see if such supplements can help prevent muscle loss. This will help people in old age who are losing muscle due to ageing,' he said. Another test explores the cultivation of nutrient-rich microalgae, which could boost food security back home. 'The advantage of space,' he said, 'is that processes happen quickly. That accelerates research and inspires children back home to say, 'I can go there too'.' PM Modi asked what message he would send to India's youth. Shukla responded with clarity and conviction: 'Never stop trying. Whether today or tomorrow, success will come if you don't give up. This is just the first chapter of India's space story. We'll build our own space station. We'll land Indian astronauts on the Moon. And, I'm documenting everything—every lesson I learn will help others fly sooner.' His final words struck a chord destined to echo across classrooms, command centres and quiet corners of the country: 'The sky is never the limit—not for me, not for you, and not for India.' 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' chant filled up the space station as the PM raised the slogan towards the end of the 18-minute conversation, which was reciprocated by Shukla.
