Early images aside, the commissioning and honing of the Vera C. Rubin Observatory continues. The project states that most things are coming along nicely, except the Atacama weather- observing had to stop due to the Austral Winter not cooperating. Oh well. Such downtime has been expected all along.
All this is “meta” (internal and somewhat circular, some might argue…) and may seem like navel-gazing to outsiders. But there are two items of external relevance:
-The Observatory has participated in the rapid-response search for sky transients. Prompted by gravitational-wave observatories, Rubin has imaged the sky for any optical counterparts to these high-energy events. The gravity observatories do not have much of any spatial resolution on sky, and cannot pinpoint the sources they detect. They only give a coarse sky region, and even that requires combining the readings from two or more gravitational-wave observatories. It is up to other telescopes to find counterparts to the gravity sources.
-The Observatory has taken time from its other demands to search for TNOs (Trans-Neptunian Objects) along the path of the New Horizons probe. The probe is still operating, still has viable propellant and electrical power, and might view a TNO that by chance crosses its general area. Ideally, an outer Solar System object might be close enough for (486958) Arrokoth-like study.
Separately: a blogger has posted their tour of the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile (along with other Chilean telescopes).
rolkesofia.wordpress.com/2025/07/30/day-4-vera-rubin-observatory-here-we-come/
The blogger is a member of ACEAP, an E/PO program (education/public outreach). See some nice shots of the site, including a few candids/behind the scenes. She even posted a YouTube video, for those who are into such things.