Vera C. Rubin Observatory's First Close-Up Image: Trifid Nebula Shines in Stunning Space Photo
Researchers unveiled the debut images from the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, including a breathtaking close-up of the Trifid Nebula, also known as Messier 20. Located 5,000 light-years away in Sagittarius, this colorful object showcases a mix of pink emission nebula, blue reflection nebula, and dark nebulas. The image was captured over four nights in May 2025 using the world's largest digital camera.
The Trifid Nebula, also known as Messier 20, was captured by the new Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile. This colorful object, located 5,000 light-years away in the constellation Sagittarius, was shared on June 23, 2025. The image showcases the cloud of gas and dust split into three parts, emitting pink light as an emission nebula, scattering light as a reflection nebula in blue, and featuring dark nebulas and dust lanes.
Inside the Trifid Nebula, new stars are forming, emitting intense radiation that shapes the gas into intricate patterns. The image, taken over four nights in May 2025, consists of 664 exposures using the 3,200-megapixel Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) Camera attached to the 8.4-meter Simonyi Survey Telescope. This survey will capture the Southern Hemisphere's night sky every three to four days for the next decade, producing unprecedented data and identifying new celestial objects.
For more space images, visit our Space Photo of the Week archives.
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