Vera Rubin Observatory with Zeljko Ivezic

About This Episode

What will Rubin Observatory discover that no one’s expecting? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comedian Chuck Nice learn and answer cosmic queries about the Vera Rubin Observatory, the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST), and our next big tool to uncover more about the universe with Zeljko Ivezic, Director of Rubin Observatory Construction.

What happens when you aim the world’s largest digital camera at the night sky for 10 years? Learn about the Legacy Survey of Space and Time and how the Rubin Observatory will upend our relationship to the night sky. Learn how the telescope will detect gravitational lensing, supernovae, large structures, and asteroids and could answer cosmic mysteries like dark matter, dark energy, and even Einstein’s equations. Could the Rubin Observatory prove Einstein’s theory of gravity wrong? Could it help find Planet Nine or even discover something we don’t yet know to look for?

From telescope construction challenges to AI-powered discovery and the future of citizen science, explore how Rubin works and how it will change how we see the universe. Plus, what happens if a star explodes when no one’s watching? And why Chuck really doesn’t want to drive the truck carrying the 8-meter mirror.

Thanks to our Patrons Ceil Hook, Travis Cowger, Mitaka, Tonatiuh Mielto, Henry Holzgrefe, Jr. , Seth Price, Kimberly Christian, Cynthia McCarty, Hector Bojorquez, Jan Groenteman, jesse riley, Brian Borho, Tori Levine, Emily Rice, Janet Andrews, Matthew Murphy, Ara Rice, Kyle Lewis, Brandon Anderson, Michelle, Kevin Ahern, Jason VanNimwegen(N7IAG), Johnny K, Joshua Barkley, Nathaniel Randell, Jon Waterfield, Matthew Schrage, Zdravko Iskrev, Norman Weizer, Brad Magic Soace, Alfrdo Fettucine Jr, Larry Taylor, Kelli Buckle, Darkarma, Lillian S., Jay Swami, Niki Anderson, Stephen Sullivan, Prasad Mohire, Dylan S, Billy Maher, Andrius Linkus, Jack Terpstra, Jason Duran, Christopher Tuomi, Farrukh Baig, Carlas, Margaret Widman Dees, and Sister Peace for supporting us this week.

NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can listen to this entire episode commercial-free.