Regina Barber

That's NPR science correspondent Nell Greenfield-Boyce, everyone. She's here to tell us about the awesome power of the Vera C. Rubin Observatory.

That's NPR science correspondent Nell Greenfield-Boyce, everyone. She's here to tell us about the awesome power of the Vera C. Rubin Observatory.

That's NPR science correspondent Nell Greenfield-Boyce, everyone. She's here to tell us about the awesome power of the Vera C. Rubin Observatory.

That's so many images. So like you could basically make like a movie out of this, like the entire night sky, like how it changes over time, which is new.

That's so many images. So like you could basically make like a movie out of this, like the entire night sky, like how it changes over time, which is new.

That's so many images. So like you could basically make like a movie out of this, like the entire night sky, like how it changes over time, which is new.

Wow. I mean, that really boggles my mind. It's like really an astonishing amount of data.

Wow. I mean, that really boggles my mind. It's like really an astonishing amount of data.

Wow. I mean, that really boggles my mind. It's like really an astonishing amount of data.

Including possibly another large planet in our solar system, right? Because my understanding is that this observatory is the best chance of finding the elusive so-called Planet 9. Right.

Including possibly another large planet in our solar system, right? Because my understanding is that this observatory is the best chance of finding the elusive so-called Planet 9. Right.

Including possibly another large planet in our solar system, right? Because my understanding is that this observatory is the best chance of finding the elusive so-called Planet 9. Right.

So today on the show, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory. What happens when big data comes to astronomy and why its telescope has the best chance of finding another planet in our solar system. Plus, what else this radical observatory might see. You're listening to Shortwave, the science podcast from NPR.

So today on the show, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory. What happens when big data comes to astronomy and why its telescope has the best chance of finding another planet in our solar system. Plus, what else this radical observatory might see. You're listening to Shortwave, the science podcast from NPR.

So today on the show, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory. What happens when big data comes to astronomy and why its telescope has the best chance of finding another planet in our solar system. Plus, what else this radical observatory might see. You're listening to Shortwave, the science podcast from NPR.

All right, now, the Rubin Observatory has been in the works for decades. Like, tell me how this idea came about.

All right, now, the Rubin Observatory has been in the works for decades. Like, tell me how this idea came about.

All right, now, the Rubin Observatory has been in the works for decades. Like, tell me how this idea came about.

Yep, everyone was dancing it. And the president was Bill Clinton. Yeah, I was in high school. I was watching a lot of Simpsons. I was playing the saxophone like Lisa and former President Clinton. Indeed.

Yep, everyone was dancing it. And the president was Bill Clinton. Yeah, I was in high school. I was watching a lot of Simpsons. I was playing the saxophone like Lisa and former President Clinton. Indeed.