Graham Smith
@grahamsmithastro.bsky.social
Professor, University of Birmingham
Project Scientist, LSST:UK
grahamsmithastro.com
All views are my own
Project Scientist, LSST:UK
grahamsmithastro.com
All views are my own
Pinned
Eye to the sky…on-sky engineering tests have begun at NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory using the world’s largest digital camera! 🔭🧪
After installing and testing the LSST Camera, we turned the telescope to the sky—a moment 20 years in the making!
With that, Rubin #CommissioningNotes are back ✍️
🧵
After installing and testing the LSST Camera, we turned the telescope to the sky—a moment 20 years in the making!
With that, Rubin #CommissioningNotes are back ✍️
🧵
so happy to begin on bluesky by reposting this amazing exciting news from @vrubinobs.bsky.social, even if it happened 10 days ago!
Birmingham’s Rubin First Look Watch Party begins in just one hour at 15:30 BST, with a taste of the science that our postdocs and students are excited about. #RubinFirstLook @lsstuk.bsky.social @vrubinobs.bsky.social www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/2025/bi...
Birmingham astronomers have front-row seat for ground-breaking movie of the cosmos - University of Birmingham
The decade-long wait for UK astronomers ends as the NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory reveals dazzling first images.
www.birmingham.ac.uk
June 23, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Birmingham’s Rubin First Look Watch Party begins in just one hour at 15:30 BST, with a taste of the science that our postdocs and students are excited about. #RubinFirstLook @lsstuk.bsky.social @vrubinobs.bsky.social www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/2025/bi...
Reposted by Graham Smith
Today's the day — it's officially T-0!
GET READY: Your full First Look at images from NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory is just hours away! We're about to reveal the preview of the greatest cosmic movie ever made 🎬 #RubinFirstLook #CaptureTheCosmos 🔭🧪
⌚️ 11am US EDT
🔗: ls.st/rubin-first-look-livestream
GET READY: Your full First Look at images from NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory is just hours away! We're about to reveal the preview of the greatest cosmic movie ever made 🎬 #RubinFirstLook #CaptureTheCosmos 🔭🧪
⌚️ 11am US EDT
🔗: ls.st/rubin-first-look-livestream
June 23, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Today's the day — it's officially T-0!
GET READY: Your full First Look at images from NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory is just hours away! We're about to reveal the preview of the greatest cosmic movie ever made 🎬 #RubinFirstLook #CaptureTheCosmos 🔭🧪
⌚️ 11am US EDT
🔗: ls.st/rubin-first-look-livestream
GET READY: Your full First Look at images from NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory is just hours away! We're about to reveal the preview of the greatest cosmic movie ever made 🎬 #RubinFirstLook #CaptureTheCosmos 🔭🧪
⌚️ 11am US EDT
🔗: ls.st/rubin-first-look-livestream
Reposted by Graham Smith
Stunning first images from the Vera C. Rubin Observatory @vrubinobs.bsky.social have been revealed today🤩🔭
Supported by a £23m investment from STFC, the Rubin Observatory’s Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) will create a 10-year time-lapse of our Universe.
More: www.ukri.org/news/uk-gets...
Supported by a £23m investment from STFC, the Rubin Observatory’s Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) will create a 10-year time-lapse of our Universe.
More: www.ukri.org/news/uk-gets...
UK gets front-row seats for groundbreaking movie of the cosmos
The decade-long wait for UK astronomers ends as the National Science Foundation-Department of Energy Vera C Rubin Observatory reveals dazzling first images.
www.ukri.org
June 23, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Stunning first images from the Vera C. Rubin Observatory @vrubinobs.bsky.social have been revealed today🤩🔭
Supported by a £23m investment from STFC, the Rubin Observatory’s Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) will create a 10-year time-lapse of our Universe.
More: www.ukri.org/news/uk-gets...
Supported by a £23m investment from STFC, the Rubin Observatory’s Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) will create a 10-year time-lapse of our Universe.
More: www.ukri.org/news/uk-gets...
Reposted by Graham Smith
The first images from the Vera C. Rubin Observatory will be revealed today. This image of the Virgo cluster, which incudes 2 spiral galaxies and 3 merging galaxies, gives a sneak preview of what we can expect. Read how EPCC is supporting Rubin's Legacy Survey of Space and Time: edin.ac/40f1n2F
June 23, 2025 at 8:53 AM
The first images from the Vera C. Rubin Observatory will be revealed today. This image of the Virgo cluster, which incudes 2 spiral galaxies and 3 merging galaxies, gives a sneak preview of what we can expect. Read how EPCC is supporting Rubin's Legacy Survey of Space and Time: edin.ac/40f1n2F
Yes, more beautiful images from the revolutionary @vrubinobs.bsky.social will be revealed at 4pm UK time today, including a live stream. #RubinFirstLook #CaptureTheCosmos @lsstuk.bsky.social
Some beautiful images from @vrubinobs.bsky.social! 🌌
But there's more to come, follow the link below from 4pm BST to see how the revolutionary telescope will #CaptureTheCosmos...
#RubinFirstLook
But there's more to come, follow the link below from 4pm BST to see how the revolutionary telescope will #CaptureTheCosmos...
#RubinFirstLook
Introducing...your sneak peek at the cosmos captured by NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory!
Can you guess these regions of sky?
This is just a small peek...join us at 11am US EDT for your full First Look at how Rubin will #CaptureTheCosmos! 🔭🧪
#RubinFirstLook
ls.st/rubin-first-look-livestream
Can you guess these regions of sky?
This is just a small peek...join us at 11am US EDT for your full First Look at how Rubin will #CaptureTheCosmos! 🔭🧪
#RubinFirstLook
ls.st/rubin-first-look-livestream
June 23, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Yes, more beautiful images from the revolutionary @vrubinobs.bsky.social will be revealed at 4pm UK time today, including a live stream. #RubinFirstLook #CaptureTheCosmos @lsstuk.bsky.social
Reposted by Graham Smith
It's incredible to think how much the incoming cohorts of grad students will have to work with - tbr (time before Rubin) will feel like such a different era
June 23, 2025 at 7:15 AM
It's incredible to think how much the incoming cohorts of grad students will have to work with - tbr (time before Rubin) will feel like such a different era
Can’t wait for all the exciting science from our current / next generation of PhD students as they explore the Rubin data @lsstuk.bsky.social #RubinFirstLook
Ditto - first ever journal club I delivered as a brand new PhD student in 2000 was about how LSST would revolutionise our field 🥹
June 23, 2025 at 7:43 AM
Can’t wait for all the exciting science from our current / next generation of PhD students as they explore the Rubin data @lsstuk.bsky.social #RubinFirstLook
You’re not the only one, @astroroyalscot.bsky.social!! Big thumbs up for Virgo and Sinclair Smith (no relation 😂) from me too! #RubinFirstLook
Kid-at-xmas levels of excitement (did I wake up at 5am - yes I did!) #RubinFirstLook
The Virgo cluster is an inspired choice: three-cheers for Sinclair Smith and his 1936 observations of it which helped Zwicky conclude there must be invisible #darkmatter out there! 🤓 🔭🧪
📷 @vrubinobs.bsky.social
The Virgo cluster is an inspired choice: three-cheers for Sinclair Smith and his 1936 observations of it which helped Zwicky conclude there must be invisible #darkmatter out there! 🤓 🔭🧪
📷 @vrubinobs.bsky.social
June 23, 2025 at 7:18 AM
You’re not the only one, @astroroyalscot.bsky.social!! Big thumbs up for Virgo and Sinclair Smith (no relation 😂) from me too! #RubinFirstLook
Buckle up folks, this is gonna be huge.. #RubinFirstLook is just the beginning!!
Here we go!!! 👀 🔭 #RubinFirstLook
Introducing...your sneak peek at the cosmos captured by NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory!
Can you guess these regions of sky?
This is just a small peek...join us at 11am US EDT for your full First Look at how Rubin will #CaptureTheCosmos! 🔭🧪
#RubinFirstLook
ls.st/rubin-first-look-livestream
Can you guess these regions of sky?
This is just a small peek...join us at 11am US EDT for your full First Look at how Rubin will #CaptureTheCosmos! 🔭🧪
#RubinFirstLook
ls.st/rubin-first-look-livestream
June 23, 2025 at 7:13 AM
Buckle up folks, this is gonna be huge.. #RubinFirstLook is just the beginning!!
Reposted by Graham Smith
If there's one thing you should know about NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory, it's this:
✨It's going to build the greatest time-lapse movie of the cosmos ever made✨
And tomorrow is the world's first preview of how Rubin will #CaptureTheCosmos in the coming decade! 🔭🧪
✨It's going to build the greatest time-lapse movie of the cosmos ever made✨
And tomorrow is the world's first preview of how Rubin will #CaptureTheCosmos in the coming decade! 🔭🧪
June 22, 2025 at 5:56 PM
If there's one thing you should know about NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory, it's this:
✨It's going to build the greatest time-lapse movie of the cosmos ever made✨
And tomorrow is the world's first preview of how Rubin will #CaptureTheCosmos in the coming decade! 🔭🧪
✨It's going to build the greatest time-lapse movie of the cosmos ever made✨
And tomorrow is the world's first preview of how Rubin will #CaptureTheCosmos in the coming decade! 🔭🧪
Reposted by Graham Smith
We're only TWO WEEKS out from NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory's first images!
Get ready for the first preview of how Rubin will #CaptureTheCosmos in its 10-year survey in a live streamed #RubinFirstLook event on June 23, 2025 at 11am EDT!
Stay up to date at rubinobservatory.org/news/rubin-first-look 🔭🧪
Get ready for the first preview of how Rubin will #CaptureTheCosmos in its 10-year survey in a live streamed #RubinFirstLook event on June 23, 2025 at 11am EDT!
Stay up to date at rubinobservatory.org/news/rubin-first-look 🔭🧪
June 9, 2025 at 6:52 PM
We're only TWO WEEKS out from NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory's first images!
Get ready for the first preview of how Rubin will #CaptureTheCosmos in its 10-year survey in a live streamed #RubinFirstLook event on June 23, 2025 at 11am EDT!
Stay up to date at rubinobservatory.org/news/rubin-first-look 🔭🧪
Get ready for the first preview of how Rubin will #CaptureTheCosmos in its 10-year survey in a live streamed #RubinFirstLook event on June 23, 2025 at 11am EDT!
Stay up to date at rubinobservatory.org/news/rubin-first-look 🔭🧪
Reposted by Graham Smith
Good news if you're a fan of websites... we've relaunched ours! If you're curious about what we do and how the UK is contributing to @vrubinobs.bsky.social, take a look! www.lsst.ac.uk 🔭
May 20, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Good news if you're a fan of websites... we've relaunched ours! If you're curious about what we do and how the UK is contributing to @vrubinobs.bsky.social, take a look! www.lsst.ac.uk 🔭
Reposted by Graham Smith
New earliest galaxy just dropped thanks to JWST, only 280 million years after the Big Bang!
But we still aren’t quite sure why bright galaxies are so abundant so early on. What’s going on?
Story by me in New Scientist
www.newscientist.com/article/2480...
But we still aren’t quite sure why bright galaxies are so abundant so early on. What’s going on?
Story by me in New Scientist
www.newscientist.com/article/2480...
Earliest galaxy ever seen offers glimpse of the nascent universe
The galaxy MoM-z14 dates back to 280 million years after the big bang, and the prevalence of such early galaxies is puzzling astronomers
www.newscientist.com
May 20, 2025 at 5:28 PM
New earliest galaxy just dropped thanks to JWST, only 280 million years after the Big Bang!
But we still aren’t quite sure why bright galaxies are so abundant so early on. What’s going on?
Story by me in New Scientist
www.newscientist.com/article/2480...
But we still aren’t quite sure why bright galaxies are so abundant so early on. What’s going on?
Story by me in New Scientist
www.newscientist.com/article/2480...
Reposted by Graham Smith
🔭🧪 Congratulations to Prof Nial Tanvir who has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society for his work studying gamma-ray bursts, the most violent explosions we've ever seen.
le.ac.uk/news/2025/ma...
le.ac.uk/news/2025/ma...
Leicester cosmic explosion expert among exceptional scientists elected as Royal Society Fellow | News | University of Leicester
le.ac.uk
May 20, 2025 at 9:44 AM
🔭🧪 Congratulations to Prof Nial Tanvir who has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society for his work studying gamma-ray bursts, the most violent explosions we've ever seen.
le.ac.uk/news/2025/ma...
le.ac.uk/news/2025/ma...
Reposted by Graham Smith
This gives the telescope ENORMOUS light-collecting power while being compact! 🔆
The primary mirror is 8.4 m in diameter – taller than the height of a two-story house. Yet, the telescope also has a compact design so it's fast enough to cover the entire visible sky in just a few nights.
🔭 🧪
The primary mirror is 8.4 m in diameter – taller than the height of a two-story house. Yet, the telescope also has a compact design so it's fast enough to cover the entire visible sky in just a few nights.
🔭 🧪
May 20, 2025 at 9:35 PM
This gives the telescope ENORMOUS light-collecting power while being compact! 🔆
The primary mirror is 8.4 m in diameter – taller than the height of a two-story house. Yet, the telescope also has a compact design so it's fast enough to cover the entire visible sky in just a few nights.
🔭 🧪
The primary mirror is 8.4 m in diameter – taller than the height of a two-story house. Yet, the telescope also has a compact design so it's fast enough to cover the entire visible sky in just a few nights.
🔭 🧪
Reposted by Graham Smith
We're worth the hype 😎 The 8.4-meter Simonyi Survey Telescope is part of what makes NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory so unique. Why?
Its primary mirror is the first of its kind, with two differently curved optical surfaces to direct light into the car-sized LSST Camera.
🔭 🧪
Its primary mirror is the first of its kind, with two differently curved optical surfaces to direct light into the car-sized LSST Camera.
🔭 🧪
May 20, 2025 at 9:35 PM
We're worth the hype 😎 The 8.4-meter Simonyi Survey Telescope is part of what makes NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory so unique. Why?
Its primary mirror is the first of its kind, with two differently curved optical surfaces to direct light into the car-sized LSST Camera.
🔭 🧪
Its primary mirror is the first of its kind, with two differently curved optical surfaces to direct light into the car-sized LSST Camera.
🔭 🧪
Reposted by Graham Smith
NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory is about to do something never done before: #CaptureTheCosmos with a 3200-megapixel image every 40 seconds, all night, every night, for 10 years. That's 60 petabytes in raw images alone! 🔭🧪
How do you handle that much data?💾
rubinobservatory.org/news/rubin-data-deluge
How do you handle that much data?💾
rubinobservatory.org/news/rubin-data-deluge
May 15, 2025 at 10:08 PM
NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory is about to do something never done before: #CaptureTheCosmos with a 3200-megapixel image every 40 seconds, all night, every night, for 10 years. That's 60 petabytes in raw images alone! 🔭🧪
How do you handle that much data?💾
rubinobservatory.org/news/rubin-data-deluge
How do you handle that much data?💾
rubinobservatory.org/news/rubin-data-deluge
Reposted by Graham Smith
Astrophysics sometimes takes you to extreme, remote places— like San Pedro de Atacama for the SWGO collaboration meeting, including a visit to the future high-energy gamma-ray observatory site. At 4775 m above sea level! 🔭🧪☄️
May 8, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Astrophysics sometimes takes you to extreme, remote places— like San Pedro de Atacama for the SWGO collaboration meeting, including a visit to the future high-energy gamma-ray observatory site. At 4775 m above sea level! 🔭🧪☄️
Reposted by Graham Smith
Yours truly with the cover story on New Scientist this month 😎
Do pick up a copy! I need to eat.
Do pick up a copy! I need to eat.
May 6, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Yours truly with the cover story on New Scientist this month 😎
Do pick up a copy! I need to eat.
Do pick up a copy! I need to eat.
Reposted by Graham Smith
Part two of the issue 'Multi-messenger gravitational lensing (Part 2)' is now live! Read the new #PhilTransA issue here: royalsocietypublishing.org/toc/rsta/202...
May 6, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Part two of the issue 'Multi-messenger gravitational lensing (Part 2)' is now live! Read the new #PhilTransA issue here: royalsocietypublishing.org/toc/rsta/202...
Reposted by Graham Smith
What is the timeline on NASA's "skinny budget"? When could it be approved/watered down by Congress?
And say for, like Mars Sample Return, if the budget was approved when could that mission be officially cancelled?
spacenews.com/nasa-budget-...
And say for, like Mars Sample Return, if the budget was approved when could that mission be officially cancelled?
spacenews.com/nasa-budget-...
NASA budget proposal draws strong criticism
The White House’s proposal to cut NASA’s budget by nearly 25% and cancel several major programs has drawn criticism from industry and members of Congress, while raising concerns among international…
spacenews.com
May 6, 2025 at 12:27 PM
What is the timeline on NASA's "skinny budget"? When could it be approved/watered down by Congress?
And say for, like Mars Sample Return, if the budget was approved when could that mission be officially cancelled?
spacenews.com/nasa-budget-...
And say for, like Mars Sample Return, if the budget was approved when could that mission be officially cancelled?
spacenews.com/nasa-budget-...
Reposted by Graham Smith
📞 Your voice matters! Today, call your senators and representatives to tell them why funding science and space is critical for America's future. It only takes a few minutes — and it can have a huge impact. #WeekOfAction ow.ly/m0oO50VN0Nm
May 6, 2025 at 12:19 PM
📞 Your voice matters! Today, call your senators and representatives to tell them why funding science and space is critical for America's future. It only takes a few minutes — and it can have a huge impact. #WeekOfAction ow.ly/m0oO50VN0Nm
The preface to Part 1 of Multi-messenger gravitational lensing gives a brief overview for busy people royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/... @royalsocietypublishing.org
May 2, 2025 at 8:33 AM
The preface to Part 1 of Multi-messenger gravitational lensing gives a brief overview for busy people royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/... @royalsocietypublishing.org
I feel privileged to have collaborated with a large and talented team (including @drgavinplamb.bsky.social, @anachoponte.bsky.social, @laurauronen.bsky.social, @dkeitel.bsky.social) to write this article, published today by @royalsocietypublishing.org: royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
Multi-messenger gravitational lensing | Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences
We introduce the rapidly emerging field of multi-messenger gravitational lensing—the
discovery and science of gravitationally lensed phenomena in the distant universe
through the combination of multip...
royalsocietypublishing.org
May 1, 2025 at 3:30 PM
I feel privileged to have collaborated with a large and talented team (including @drgavinplamb.bsky.social, @anachoponte.bsky.social, @laurauronen.bsky.social, @dkeitel.bsky.social) to write this article, published today by @royalsocietypublishing.org: royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
Reposted by Graham Smith
We’re creating a massive, 3200-megapixel group photo…and it won’t be complete without YOU!
NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory’s LSST Camera — the largest camera in the world — began on-sky engineering tests this month. So let’s celebrate! 🔭🧪
Join by May 14: rubinobservatory.org/explore/acti...
NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory’s LSST Camera — the largest camera in the world — began on-sky engineering tests this month. So let’s celebrate! 🔭🧪
Join by May 14: rubinobservatory.org/explore/acti...
April 30, 2025 at 9:45 PM
We’re creating a massive, 3200-megapixel group photo…and it won’t be complete without YOU!
NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory’s LSST Camera — the largest camera in the world — began on-sky engineering tests this month. So let’s celebrate! 🔭🧪
Join by May 14: rubinobservatory.org/explore/acti...
NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory’s LSST Camera — the largest camera in the world — began on-sky engineering tests this month. So let’s celebrate! 🔭🧪
Join by May 14: rubinobservatory.org/explore/acti...