The first photons have been collected by the Simonyi Telescope at the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, marking a pivotal moment in observational astronomy. The initial 144 Mpix images demonstrate unprecedented detail, allowing us to peer deeper into our cosmic neighborhood than ever before. As we approach Data Preview 1 in July 2025, our department stands ready to leverage this revolutionary dataset to answer fundamental questions about our Universe.
To celebrate the release of the data taken with Rubin's commissioning camera, we are pleased to announce that the Department of Astronomy will be hosting its first Rubin Data Sprint. This event will present an exciting opportunity for UW faculty, staff, and students to start working with Rubin data (we have already found cataclysmic variables, AGN, asteroids, and supernovae in the commissioning data). Whether you are experienced in data analysis or just getting started, there will be people available to help you work with the data and tools for analyzing it. The sprint will provide a collaborative environment where participants can explore datasets, develop analytical skills, and connect with others interested in Rubin science.
How should you prepare for the event? Think about the science case you want to try out with the commissioning data (images that span the u,g,r,i,z,y passbands in 7 separate 0.5 degree radius regions on the sky with each region observed between 50 to 900 times over a 5 week period). Bring that idea and start working with the data!
We will host this event in eScience. The exact date will be announced once the Rubin team have finalized the release date, so please stay tuned!