©NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory via AP
Pre-reading questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Have you ever seen pictures of space objects, like stars or planets? If so, which one surprised you the most? If not, where do you think you could find them?
- Do you know anything about telescopes or space cameras? If so, what do you know? If not, what do you think they are used for?
Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- distinct /dih-STINGKT/
- identify /ahy-DEN-tuh-fahy/
- invisible /in-VIZ-uh-buhl/
- ambitious /am-BISH-uhs/
- monitor /MON-i-ter/
[adjective] – clearly different or separate
The two birds have distinct colors.
[verb] – to recognize someone or something and say or prove who or what they are
Police used pictures to identify the man.
[adjective] – impossible to see
The wind is invisible, but we can feel it.
[adjective] – having a strong wish to be successful or to achieve something
She has an ambitious plan to climb the highest mountain.
[noun] – to regularly observe, check, or keep track of something over time
Satellites are used to monitor weather patterns and help scientists predict storms.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
On June 24, 2025, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile shared its first images of space. The observatory stands on Cerro Pachón, a tall mountain in the Andes. It was built with support from the U.S. National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy. This observatory plans to study the southern sky for ten years. The goal is to see more details in space and find things that are hard to see. The new pictures show the Trifid and Lagoon nebulas, which are bright gas clouds far from Earth. A group of galaxies called the Virgo Cluster was also seen, including two distinct spiral galaxies. The observatory uses a camera with 3.2 gigapixels. This tool helps take very clear images and helps experts identify many objects in space.
The project is named after Vera Rubin, a famous astronomer. She helped prove that dark matter exists. This dark matter is invisible, but it still changes how galaxies move. Experts said the camera could help explain dark matter and dark energy. These affect how the universe grows. The observatory will take pictures of 20 billion galaxies and find new space objects. The project is very ambitious and may help bring new ideas to astronomy. It also helps scientists monitor the night sky and expand knowledge about the universe.
The project is named after Vera Rubin, a famous astronomer. She helped prove that dark matter exists. This dark matter is invisible, but it still changes how galaxies move. Experts said the camera could help explain dark matter and dark energy. These affect how the universe grows. The observatory will take pictures of 20 billion galaxies and find new space objects. The project is very ambitious and may help bring new ideas to astronomy. It also helps scientists monitor the night sky and expand knowledge about the universe.
Comprehension questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them based on the article.
- Where is the Vera C. Rubin Observatory located?
- When did the observatory share its first space images?
- Who helped build the observatory?
- How long will the observatory study the sky?
- What do the new images show in space?
Discussion questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Have you ever looked at the night sky with a telescope? If so, what did you see? If not, would you like to try? Why or why not?
- Have you ever visited a science museum or planetarium? If so, what did you learn? If not, what do you want to learn?
- Do you agree that space cameras are important for learning about the universe?
- Why do you think scientists put observatories on mountains and not in cities?
- Why is it important to learn about galaxies far from Earth?