ALT A complex entanglement of three interacting galaxies, bright cores lined up left to right and connectied by spiderweb-like tendrils. The background is black, sprinkled with countless galaxies and stars of varying colors and sizes.

ALT Two interacting galaxies, one larger and blue and the other smaller and more yellow. The background is sprinkled with stars and galaxies of varying colors and sizes.

ALT Two interacting galaxies at center, bright cores lined up upper left to lower right and connected by spiderweb-like tendrils. The background is black, sprinkled with countless galaxies and stars of varying colors and sizes.

ALT Two interacting galaxies at center, with cores and extended tendrils of stars in a thin horizontal line. The background is black, sprinkled with countless galaxies and stars of varying colors and sizes.

ALT Star-filled teal night sky with turquoise glowing band, scattered “DATA ALERT” tags, and a white icon of the Rubin Observatory atop dark mountains. This artist’s illustration represents the start of the alert stream from NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory. The summit facility is shown on a rocky ridge. The night sky features stars and the glittering band of the Milky Way Galaxy. The sky is populated with multiple alert “pings,” representing individual alerts from Rubin that something in the sky has changed in brightness or position. Different icons represent various types of alerts, including asteroids, supernovae, active galactic nuclei, and variable stars. (NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory/NOIRLab/SLAC/AURA/P. Marenfeld/J. Pinto)

ALT Josh Frieman and Risa Wechsler in the Rubin Control Room at SLAC. Six computer monitors behind them show images of Rubin Observatory and various cosmic phenomena. (Jacqueline Orrell/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory)

ALT Large boot-shaped observatory with a massive telescope dome reflecting orange and golden sunset light atop its rocky mountain site.

ALT Large boot-shaped observatory with a massive telescope dome atop its rocky mountain site, with the golden glow of sunset over the rolling peaks in the distance.

ALT Large boot-shaped observatory on a rocky mountain peak during a vibrant sunset with layered mountain ranges in the background.

ALT Drone shot of a massive teal telescope within an observatory's dome with a vertical opening, surrounded by winding mountain roads and dry terrain.