#NOIRLab
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vrubinobs.bsky.social
📷:
1. NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory/NOIRLab/SLAC/AURA/P. Marenfeld
2. NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory/NOIRLab/SLAC/AURA/J. Pollard, Acknowledgement: PI: Sarah Greenstreet (NSF NOIRLab/Rubin Observatory)
January 7, 2026 at 5:25 PM
universal-sci.bsky.social
Fascinating: They look like cosmic companions, but Arp 4 is a cosmic illusion: one galaxy is ~65 million light-years away and the other is ~675 million

(Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, J. Dalcanton, Dark Energy Survey/DOE/FNAL/DECam/CTIO/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA)
January 9, 2026 at 1:53 AM
vrubinobs.bsky.social
Here's the rest of Day 3 for NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory at #AAS247! 🔭

🗓️ First science results from Rubin: https://ow.ly/1u6650XT9C6

🗓️ NSF NOIRLab Open House: https://ow.ly/lZIW50XT9C5

Don't forget to visit us in the exhibit hall at the NOIRLab booth!
Announcement for first science results from NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory at AAS247 on Jan 7, 2026, 2-3:30pm MST, Room 226 B. Announcement for NSF NOIRLab Open House at AAS247 on Jan 7, 2026, from 6-8:30pm MST in Room 124 A/B
January 7, 2026 at 8:40 PM
astropics.bsky.social
画像は南米チリで撮影されたもので、セロ・トロロ汎米天文台（CTIO）にあるSOAR望遠鏡と、その頭上に輝く天の川が映っています。SOAR望遠鏡の右には、空にレーザービームを照射するジェミニ南望遠鏡も見えています。

astropics.bookbright.co.jp/industrious-...

Image Credit: International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/T. Slovinský
January 8, 2026 at 3:02 AM
astropics.bsky.social
昨年2025年の夜空では、5月初旬に火星、9月初旬に金星がプレセペ星団（M44）に接近しました。画像はプレセペ星団（中央）と、接近した火星（上）と金星（下）を合成したもの。

12月31日公開のNOIRLab（アメリカ光学・赤外天文学研究所）の「Images of the Week」

astropics.bookbright.co.jp/warning-plan...

Image Credit: NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/P. Horálek (Instituto de Física de Opava)
January 6, 2026 at 8:42 AM
usngo.bsky.social
Against a backdrop of snow and volcanic rock, the observatories at the summit of Maunakea in Hawai’i harbor some of the world’s most advanced astronomical equipment, including Gemini North, the open silver dome on the higher ridge. #astronomy

Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/J. Pollard
January 6, 2026 at 6:51 PM
astropics.bsky.social
ベラ・C・ルービン天文台での試験観測のデータから、超高速で自転する19個の小惑星が発見されました。そのうちの一つは直径710m、わずか1.88分で自転。直径500mを超えるものとしては、これまで発見された中で最も速く自転する小惑星です。

astropics.bookbright.co.jp/asteroid-202...

Image Credit: NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory/NOIRLab/SLAC/AURA/P. Marenfeld
January 9, 2026 at 8:48 AM
apod.shinyakato.dev
🔭 The Einstein Cross Gravitational Lens

Image Credit & License: NSF, NOIRLab, AURA, WIYN; Processing: J. Rhoads (Arizona State U.) et al.

apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap26010...
A faint galaxy near the center of the image shows four bright spots near its center. Please see the explanation for more detailed information.
January 4, 2026 at 8:00 AM
usngo.bsky.social
From @noirlabastro.bsky.social : Here's a list of everything related to NSF NOIRLab and its Programs: Gemini Observatory, Cerro Tololo, Kitt Peak, CSDC, @vrubinobs.bsky.social at #AAS247. Check it out here noirlab.edu/science/meet....

Visit our booth in the exhibit hall. #astronomy @aas.org
January 6, 2026 at 2:07 PM
vrubinobs.bsky.social
American Astronomical Society (AAS) meetings: where coffee is a food group, name badges are personality traits, and you run into colleagues everywhere. ☕🔭

NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory is in Phoenix for #AAS247! If you're here, visit us at the NOIRLab booth between visits to talks and power outlets.
Attendees interact and take photos at the Vera C. Rubin Observatory booth during a busy indoor conference event. Four people gathered around a booth at a conference.
January 5, 2026 at 7:25 PM
usngo.bsky.social
📍Cerro Pachón, Chile 🇨🇱 @noirlabastro.bsky.social @vrubinobs.bsky.social #astronomy
📷GeminiObs/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/R.Rutten
January 2, 2026 at 10:52 PM
arpbot.bsky.social
Kitt Peak National Observatory image of Arp 336, also known as NGC 2685.

NGC 2685 is a polar ring galaxy. It has a ring of gas, stars, and dust that orbits perpendicular to the plane of the galaxy, seen as unusual whorls, or helical filaments.

Credit: NOIRLab, AURA, NSF
Source
A lenticular galaxy has an pale yellow central core that forms a fuzzy bar structure. Surrounding this a faint almond-shaped area. Together, they somewhat resemble an eye. Several faint, brown, slightly curved dust lanes cross the galaxy vertically on its left half. The black background of space is dotted with stars and smaller galaxies.
January 6, 2026 at 12:32 PM
vrubinobs.bsky.social
NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory at #AAS247: Day 1!

🗓️ Leveraging the Power of Cosmic Messengers with Rubin, LIGO, and Gemini: https://ow.ly/J6TL50XRZl4

🗓️ A Night of Cosmic Discovery (RSVP required): https://ow.ly/8qz050XRZl2

Don't forget to visit us in the exhibit hall at the NOIRLab booth!
Announcement for a session at AAS 247: Leveraging the power of cosmic messengers with Rubin, LIGO, and Gemini on January 5, 2026, from 12:30 to 3:30 pm MST in Room 131 C.
January 5, 2026 at 7:40 PM
vrubinobs.bsky.social
NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory at #AAS247: Day 2!

🗓️ Rubin and Satellite Constellations: https://ow.ly/rL0l50XSypQ

🗓️ Outreach and Education Engagement: Rubin, Roman, and Beyond: https://ow.ly/aapf50XSypN

And come visit us in the exhibit hall at the NOIRLab booth!
Announcement for the Rubin Observatory and Satellite Constellations event at AAS247 on Jan 6, 2026, from 2-3:30pm MST in Room 226 C. Announcement for the Outreach and Education session for Rubin, Roman, and beyond at AAS247 on Jan 6, 2026, from 2-3:30pm MST in Room 221 B.
January 6, 2026 at 5:15 PM
webb-telescope.bsky.social
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope on Flickr (Feb 16, 2023)

Explore the intricate gas and dust networks of NGC 7496 as revealed by Webb's MIRI.

flic.kr/p/2ohe27u
Mid-infrared image of the spiral galaxy NGC 7496, showing its gas and dust networks with red diffraction spikes around a bright core. Credit: Science - NASA, ESA, CSA, and J. Lee (NOIRLab); Image processing - A. Pagan (STScI)
January 6, 2026 at 1:00 AM
melina-iras07572.bsky.social
#Firework nebula (around GK Persei) with #KPNO 4-m telescope (image taken in February 2010). Hydrogen-alpha filter.
From NOIRLab image cutout: datalab.noirlab.edu/data-explorer
A nebula looking like a firework
December 31, 2025 at 8:35 PM
usngo.bsky.social
From @noirlabastro.bsky.social: We had an incredible year of science and discovery at NOIRLab, and we’re celebrating by admiring some of our most dazzling stellar snapshots. #astronomy
December 31, 2025 at 6:53 PM
manuelacasasoli.bsky.social
The best images from the cosmos in 2025: wow!

"The dark molecular cloud Chamaeleon I is the star-forming region that is closest to Earth and is part of the larger Chamaeleon Complex."

🧪 #Science #Astronomy
Behold the 10 Most Stunning #Space Images of 2025
www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-...
Image Source: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-best-space-photos-of-2025-reveal-the-most-jaw-dropping-views-of-the/ Credit CTIO/NOIRLab/DOE/NSF/AURA (image); T. A. Rector/University of Alaska Anchorage/NSF NOIRLab/M. Zamani/D. de Martin/NSF NOIRLab (image processing) (CC BY 4.0)
December 30, 2025 at 4:01 PM
arpbot.bsky.social
Gemini South image of Arp 271, also known as NGC 5426 and NGC 5427.

This pair of galaxies are tugging on each other with gravity. We can see this interaction in the bridge of stars connecting the galaxies.

Credit: International Gemini Observatory, NOIRLab, NSF, AURA
Source
Two similar-looking spiral galaxies take up most of the frame. They both have bright, yellow-white central cores and well-defined spiral arms dotted with pink star forming regions. NGC 5427 is a nearly face-on spiral galaxy at lower left. NGC 5426 is a more oblique galaxy at upper right. The two spiral arms on the upper side of NGC 5426 appear as a bridge that connects with NGC 5427. The black background of space is dotted with stars and small background galaxies.
January 1, 2026 at 12:31 PM
vrubinobs.bsky.social
What do astronomers, cacti, and too much coffee have in common?🔭🌵☕️

They'll all be in Phoenix next week for #AAS247!

NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory will be there with NOIRLab & Rubin scientists are excited to share early results ahead of LSST's expected start in early 2026!
Large observatory dome under a star-filled night sky with text announcing attendance at AAS 247 in Phoenix, January 2026.
December 30, 2025 at 3:15 PM
arpbot.bsky.social
Hubble image of Arp 282, also known as NGC 169 and NGC 169A.

Interactions between the two galaxies create delicate streams that visibly link the pair.

Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, J. Dalcanton, Dark Energy Survey, DOE, FNAL/DECam, CTIO/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA, SDSS, J. Schmidt
Source
A large spiral galaxy is seen in the center of the frame. It's tilted at an angle, so that it's disk appears as an oval rather than a circle. Dramatic dust lanes cross in front of the center of the galaxy and are backlit by a haze of yellow-white stars. Above the spiral is a smaller disk galaxy seen in shades of blue white. It appears to be at almost a right angle to the large spiral, falling into the larger galaxy. The two galaxies are connected by a bridge of dusty tendrils, which are also backlit by the main galaxy. This galaxy pair looks a lot more 3D than most interacting galaxies because of their angles and the backlighting effect.
December 31, 2025 at 12:31 AM
umbertogaetani.mastodon.uno.ap.brid.gy
I telescopi Gemini e Blanco svelano indizi sull'origine del più lungo lampo di raggi gamma mai osservato

@astronomia

I dati acquisiti con diverse strutture NSF NOIRLab indicano che un lampo di raggi gamma della durata di oltre sette ore proviene da una […]

[Original post on mastodon.uno]
December 30, 2025 at 4:43 PM
usngo.bsky.social
From @noirlabastro.bsky.social: This image reveals details in the outskirts of the Orion Nebula. The white-blue spots are clouds of gaseous iron ‘bullets’ being propelled at supersonic speeds from a region of massive star formation. #astronomy

📷: International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA
The image shows the Orion "bullets" as blue features and represents the light emitted by hot iron (Fe) gas. The light from the wakes, shown in orange, is from excited hydrogen gas.This image brings into focus a remarkably detailed view of supersonic “bullets” of gas and the wakes created as they pierce through clouds of molecular hydrogen in the famous Orion Nebula. The image was made possible with laser guide star adaptive optics technology that corrects in real-time for image distortions caused by the Earth’s atmosphere.
December 29, 2025 at 3:34 PM
arpbot.bsky.social
Kitt Peak National Observatory image of Arp 104, also known as NGC 5216 and NGC 5218, or Keenan’s System.

A bridge of stars and gas about 7,000 light years wide and 150,000 light years long connects the two galaxies.

Credit: NOIRLab, NSF, AURA, T.A. Rector, H. Schweiker
Source
Two galaxies connected by a long, thin stream of gas and stars that form a vertical line. The first galaxy, at the top of the frame, appears to be a disturbed spiral galaxy. It has a swirling disk made of a haze of pale yellow stars accented by faint brown dust lanes. The outer parts of the disk are surrounded by a haze of pale blue-white stars, including a tidal tail or arm that swirls from about the 3 o'clock to about 12 o'clock position. A long, thin, translucent line, made of a haze of stars and gas, connects the bottom of the top galaxy to the top of its companion below. The second galaxy is near the bottom of the frame. It is roughly circular and has a bright, pale yellow center that gradually fades out and becomes more translucent near its edges. The thin line of stars and gas appears to emerge from the bottom of the galaxy, arcing slightly up as it exits. The black background of space is filled with stars and tiny background galaxies.
December 29, 2025 at 12:31 AM
c0nc0rdance.bsky.social
This is NGC 2264, also called the "Christmas Tree Cluster." It's a cluster of young stars about 2,500 light years away.

They were 'born' during the Pliocene Epoch (2-5 MYA), about the same time as early hominids like Ardipithecus or Homo habilis, so they're barely older than humanity.
🎄💫🔭
A nebula X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO; Optical: T.A. Rector (NRAO/AUI/NSF and NOIRLab/NSF/AURA) and B.A. Wolpa (NOIRLab/NSF/AURA); Infrared: NASA/NSF/IPAC/CalTech/Univ. of Massachusetts; Image Processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/L. Frattare & J.Major
December 25, 2025 at 1:18 PM