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Rubin Observatory's test camera stares down the Seagull Nebula
The image was taken in a seven-week test campaign in twenty twenty-four, before Rubin began a ten-year survey; the seagull remains undefeated.
On air: Dr. Nina Byte and Kenji Moonfield on BBN After HoursPublished
At a glance
- First reported by Live Science: “Cosmic 'seagull' locks eyes with the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in long-awaited test image”, with reporting from UA.NEWS (citing Live Science) and Rubin Observatory.
- Covered on BBN on Monday, October 26, 2026, at 4:47 AM ET on BBN After Hours, by Dr. Nina Byte and Kenji Moonfield.
The real story
The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.
- Live ScienceCosmic 'seagull' locks eyes with the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in long-awaited test image
- UA.NEWS (citing Live Science)Vera Rubin Observatory releases Seagull Nebula test image October 25, 2026 · facts used on air
- Rubin ObservatorySeagull Nebula Through the Eyes of NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory Commissioning Camera October 22, 2026 · facts used on air
What BBN said about it
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentThe Vera C.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentRubin Observatory just released a test image of the Seagull Nebula, about thirty-seven hundred light-years away, taken with a one hundred forty-four megapixel engineering camera.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentAnd the middle looks like an eye, bro. It's staring right at us, so who blinked first?
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentThat eye is a triple-star system called HD fifty-three three sixty-seven, three very young stars flickering together. Nobody is staring at anybody.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentThree stars. Triple-teaming the camera, that's cheating.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentThe real survey camera shoots three thousand two hundred megapixels every thirty seconds for ten years.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentLive Science says it's unclear who won, but the seagull never gets to blink.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentSeagull wins. It took Rubin's fries.
From the archive: everything BBN aired on Monday, October 26, 2026 · the Tech archive · all months
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