This single 3200-megapixel photo contains more than half a million galaxies and 50,000+ stars. Vera Rubin scientists say this is just the beginning
The latest image from the world's largest camera captures an overwhelming number of galaxies on a 3200MP car-sized camera
3200MP camera captures 500,000+ galaxies, 50,000+ stars in first Vera Rubin image
The world's largest camera, the LSST Camera, has captured a record-breaking image of the COSMOS Field, revealing more than half a million galaxies and over 50,000 stars. The image, taken between April 2025 and January 2026, covers roughly one sixth of the visible night sky in the southern hemisphere. Researchers from the National Science Foundation National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory (NOIRLab) say this is just the beginning of what the LSST can achieve.
The LSST, weighing three tons, is being used for a decade-long survey of the night sky. The LSST's first phase started earlier this summer, and the latest image is a glimpse of the immense potential of the survey. Rubin Observatory Director at NSF NoirLab, Bob Blum, stated that repeated visits to the field in the coming years will showcase the survey's power by bringing forth numerous transient and variable objects for further study.
The LSST Camera, with its 3200MP sensor, uses three lenses to capture the night sky. Its massive size and filters weigh about 3,000 kg and 40 kg, respectively. Early images from the LSST survey are now available for exploration in the Vera C Rubin Skyviewer app.
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