The Vera C. Rubin Observatory is set to revolutionize the detection of interstellar objects (ISOs) in our solar system. Located on the mountain of Cerro Pachón in Chile, the observatory’s Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) camera will scan the entire southern sky every few nights, increasing the chances of finding fleeting visitors from outside our solar system.
The Rubin Observatory has already made headlines with its early detection of 2,104 new asteroids in just 10 hours of observations. Its powerful imaging and automatic image comparison capabilities, coupled with an automated alert system, will enable astronomers to detect telltale motion and flag potential ISOs.
Scientists estimate that the Rubin Observatory might detect between 0.9-1.9 ISOs every year or around 15 objects across its 10-year observational campaign. A more optimistic assessment suggests that Rubin could detect up to 70 asteroidal interstellar objects annually, depending on various factors such as object size and albedo.
With only three confirmed interstellar visitors so far, the discovery of these enigmatic objects is still a relatively rare event. However, with the Rubin Observatory coming online, sightings of ISOs may soon become more routine, offering unique insights into the galaxy beyond our solar system.
Source: https://www.space.com/astronomy/the-vera-rubin-observatory-could-find-dozens-of-interstellar-objects