Science & Tech · Space · 5 hrs ago
Rubin Observatory Test Camera Captures the Seagull Nebula
The Vera C. Rubin Observatory released a new space image taken by its commissioning camera, known as ComCam.
The observatory is in Chile, and ComCam was built to test its systems before the larger survey camera takes over.
ComCam collected about 16,000 exposures during a seven-week test run in late 2024.
The new image shows part of the Seagull Nebula, about 3,700 light-years from Earth.
It highlights the nebula's head, where hot young stars light up gas and dust as new stars form.
ComCam is smaller than the observatory's main camera but produces 144-megapixel images, using the same image-processing planned for that camera.
Though its main testing role is complete, ComCam will still help test software and support maintenance.
The Vera C. Rubin Observatory has released an image of the Seagull Nebula captured by its commissioning camera.
The image shows Sharpless 2-292, the region that represents the nebula’s head.
The Seagull Nebula, also known as IC 2177, is about 3,700 light-years away.
The camera, known as ComCam, collected about 16,000 exposures during a seven-week testing run in late 2024.
The observatory released the image to mark the two-year anniversary of the beginning of ComCam testing.
- Who
- The NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory released the image.
- What
- A test camera image shows part of the Seagull Nebula, including its head.
- When
- The image was released in October 2026. The camera observed for seven weeks in late 2024.
- Where
- The Seagull Nebula, about 3,700 light-years away. ComCam was mounted on the Simonyi Survey Telescope at the observatory.
- Why
- The observatory released the image to mark the two-year anniversary of the beginning of ComCam testing.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
ComCam was mounted on the Simonyi Survey Telescope at the Rubin Observatory.
ComCam observed for seven weeks and gathered about 16,000 exposures.
ComCam was removed from the telescope.
The observatory held its First Look Event and revealed its first look at the cosmos.
The observatory released the ComCam image of the Seagull Nebula to mark the two-year anniversary of the beginning of testing.
- Nebula
- Seagull Nebula, formally named IC 2177
- Distance
- About 3,700 light-years
- Featured region
- Sharpless 2-292, the nebula’s head
- ComCam observations
- About 16,000 exposures over seven weeks
- ComCam image size
- 144 megapixels
What people are saying
Not bad for a test camera.
the largest digital camera ever built