St Andrews researchers help launch decade-long quest to map the Universe

Researchers at the University of St Andrews are celebrating the start of one of the most ambitious astronomical projects ever undertaken, as the NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory begins its 10-year Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST).

The survey officially began today, 30 June 2026, and will create an ultra-wide, ultra-high-definition time-lapse record of the southern sky, capturing an unprecedented view of the changing Universe. Over the next decade, Rubin will repeatedly image the entire southern sky, helping scientists investigate some of the biggest unanswered questions in astronomy, including the nature of dark energy, the evolution of galaxies, and the history of our Solar System and the Milky Way.

The University of St Andrews is part of the LSST Consortium, a partnership of 36 institutions representing the UK’s leading astronomy research groups. Supported by investment from the Science and Technology Facilities Council(STFC), the consortium has spent more than a decade preparing for the vast stream of data that is now beginning to flow from the observatory in Chile.

During its survey, Rubin is expected to catalogue around 17 billion stars, 20 billion galaxies and millions of changing or moving objects across the sky, generating up to 500 petabytes of data. UK researchers are playing a leading role in processing this extraordinary dataset and developing the tools that will allow astronomers around the world to analyse it.

Dr Juan V. Hernández Santisteban, lecturer at the School of Physics & Astronomy, said: “The start of the LSST survey marks a major milestone in our exploration of the Universe. Combining a unique telescope with the largest digital camera ever built, LSST will allow us to observe the dynamic night sky across a wide range of timescales. Its real strength lies in its broad scientific impact, shaping research across many areas of astronomy — from objects within our own Solar System to distant supermassive black holes.

Professor Grahame Blair, Executive Director of Programmes at STFC, said: “Today marks the beginning of a new era in astronomy. Together with our partners, UK scientists, engineers and software experts, STFC is excited to be part of one of the most ambitious scientific projects ever undertaken.

“The discoveries made over the next decade will inspire future generations, deepen our understanding of the cosmos, and reinforce the UK’s position at the forefront of astronomical research.”

Professor Bob Mann, Project Leader for UK participation in Rubin LSST and Professor of Survey Astronomy at the University of Edinburgh, said: “Today marks the start of the 10-year LSST, but it is more like the mid-point of our UK project. Researchers in the UK have been preparing for more than a decade for the data that is starting to flow today and the contributions we are making will enhance the science that can be done with it over the coming decade or more by astronomers around the world.”

The Rubin Observatory’s decade-long survey is expected to transform astronomy by producing the most comprehensive moving picture of the Universe ever created, opening the door to discoveries that scientists cannot yet predict.

Image shows a field of stars in the constellation Lupus showcasing the unprecedented view of the Universe that NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory gives us. Equipped with the LSST Camera — the largest digital camera in the world — Rubin combines a wide view of the sky with the ability to detect extremely faint objects. With this capability, Rubin can reveal details of the cosmos across an enormous range of scales, from distant galaxies, to individual stars, to the wispy clouds of dust spread throughout our galaxy.