Rubin Observatory has reached a major milestone this week. At about UT 00:30 on Wednesday we began streaming transient and variable alerts to the science community marking the beginning of science for the Observatory and its science community (but not the start of the LSST.
A press release that went out world wide yesterday is here.
It is difficult to overstate the feeling of pride I have for the Rubin team and our science community whose combined work over more than 20 years has brought us to this amazing point. I believe we, together, are changing how astronomy and astrophysics are done. Congratulations to us all. Enjoy the moment, it is well deserved!
We have not started the survey proper, but the team is working hard on sky to deliver the performance we need in the long run. I will be checking in here in the next week and months to keep you updated on where we are at and where we are heading.
With immense gratitude to you all, our US and international funders and partners, a sincere thank you for all your efforts to reach First Alerts.
As a young professional astronomer involved in data science, I want to sincerely thank you and the entire Rubin Observatory team for the years of dedication, vision, and hard work that made this milestone possible.
Moments like this are deeply inspiring for those of us at earlier stages of our careers. You are not only advancing astronomy, but also opening entirely new pathways for discovery, allowing us to explore the dynamic universe in ways that were unimaginable before. You are helping pave the road to the cosmos for a new generation of scientists.
I’m truly grateful to witness the scientific era that Rubin Observatory is helping to shape. Congratulations to everyone involved in reaching First Alerts. This is just the beginning, and it already represents something extraordinary.
Thank you so much on behalf of the team (Rubin+community) for your kind words. Building a bright (dark sky) future for the next and future generations is one of the things that gives me a sense of accomplishment and pride in our community. I am personally grateful for the opportunity to have participated in this project and program. And fortunate to work with so many dedicated scientists, engineers, technicians, administrative professionals, and observatory staff.