The Digital Press

The Rubin Observatory is expected to significantly expand our knowledge of asteroids by tripling the known catalog, with advanced imaging capabilities and repeated sky surveys. It will complement upcoming space telescopes by covering different asteroid populations and overcoming observational biases.

Why it matters: Rubin will greatly improve tracking of smaller asteroids, enhancing planetary defense and asteroid belt understanding.

The big picture: It pairs well with the upcoming Near Earth Object Surveyor, which uses infrared to detect asteroids missed by visible light surveys.

The other side: Starlink satellite streaks pose challenges, but Rubin's repeated exposures reduce the impact on data quality.

Commenters say: Experts highlight Rubin’s transformative potential for asteroid discovery and time-domain astronomy, while acknowledging issues like atmospheric limits and satellite interference.