Science Goals

Scientists will discover many new things using Rubin Observatory data—some discoveries will advance science in ways we can’t predict yet! But Rubin Observatory was specifically designed to help answer questions in four main science areas:

1. Understanding the nature of dark matter and dark energy
2. Creating an inventory of the Solar System
3. Mapping the Milky Way
4. Exploring objects that change position or brightness over time, called "transients"

Many details about the telescope like its size, speed, or camera sensitivity were developed to maximize scientific discovery in these four science areas. Click on the topics below to learn more about how Rubin Observatory will contribute to each one.