Rubin Observatory has started paging astronomers 800,000 times a night

image via New Scientist

February 26, 2026, 12:00 PM

• •Rubin Observatory's alert system identifies and flags changes in the night sky.
• •The system can distinguish between different types of celestial events.
• •Users can sign up for notifications based on their interests.
• •The alerts include a small image and astronomical metadata.
• •The number of alerts is expected to reach millions nightly.

The Vera C. Rubin Observatory has activated its alert system, sending out its first batch of nightly notifications to astronomers. This system analyzes the observatory's images to identify celestial events like asteroids and exploding stars. On its first night of public access, the system generated and distributed around 800,000 alerts, a number expected to grow significantly. This rapid alert system allows astronomers and the public to receive notifications about interesting astronomical phenomena in near real-time.

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