2,100 Asteroids Revealed in First Images from Vera Rubin Observatory

Millions of asteroids swing around the belt of our solar system. They’re interstellar objects that look so small yet can be so vicious. The Vera Rubin Observatory, located in Chile, revealed the first images from the world’s most powerful telescope on June 23, 2025. The scans exhibit thousands of asteroids, spotting potentially dangerous ones.

The telescope, more than 2 decades in the making, shows expansive pictures of the world above us. In just 10 hours of observations, the Vera Rubin Telescope was able to discover 2,104 asteroids. “Rubin Observatory is the greatest astronomical discovery machine ever built,” says Željko Ivezić, the director of construction at the observatory. The Vera Rubin Observatory is named after astronomer Vera Rubin, who provided evidence for the existence of dark matter. The observatory is situated on Cerro Pachón, a Chilean mountain, which provides the facility with clear skies—a perfect location for stargazing.

Striking Stars

As fascinating as the asteroids are, they also pose a threat to humanity. The Rubin telescope also plays the role of scanning for potentially dangerous asteroids. Most asteroids are found in the Kuiper belt between Mars and Jupiter. However, these astronomical rocks are notorious for deflecting from their path and striking our planet.

Fortunately, based on a study made by the Vera Rubin Observatory over the past large asteroid impacts, it is improbable that a hazardous asteroid will hit the Earth. However, smaller asteroids pose a large concern as many remain untracked and could strike without warning.

It is estimated that there are 25,000 asteroids near Earth big enough to destroy a city (460 feet), and only 44 percent of those asteroids have been found. Mario Juric, a professor at the University of Washington, predicts that by the end of Rubin’s survey over ten years that we will be able to find 70 percent.

To See the Stars

Inside the observatory, all stray lights are turned off to avoid interference with the starlight. The whole facility ensures that the dome surrounding the telescope has a clear view of the night sky. Commissioning scientist Elana Urbach explains how the astronomical light is “enough” to explore the galaxies.

For the telescope to achieve sharp images, it uses a special three-mirror design. Light from the night sky enters the telescope, reflecting off a primary mirror, which then bounces onto the secondary mirror, back onto a third mirror, before entering the lenses of the camera.

This unique structure allows the camera to capture a wide field view repeatedly every three days for 10 years. An optics expert at the observatory, Guillem Megia, speaks on the importance of observing things from “really far away, which, in astronomy, means they come from earlier times”.

Above and Beyond

Over ten years, it is expected that Rubin to discover millions of stars and space rocks that fly by the galaxy. “You’ve not seen the whole thing, all captured at once at this depth with so many objects there,” Dr. Ritz said. “That, I would point out, is new. And just how pretty it is.”

Great work. Try to end with your own words as opposed to a quote

Sources:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj3rmjjgx6xo

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/23/science/vera-rubin-telescopes-first-images.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/23/science/rubin-telescope-asteroids.html

https://rubinobservatory.org/slideshows/eyes-on-asteroids?