Have you ever looked at images of space and wondered if they were real? Is this what stars, planets, and galaxies really look like? And how do astronomers use these images to learn about them? In this presentation, Dr. Rector will talk about how astronomical images are made, and what they teach us. He will also talk about a new telescope, called, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, that is about to revolutionize everything we know about astronomy.

Dr. Travis A. Rector is a professor of physics & astronomy at the University of Alaska Anchorage. For over 30 years he has been using the world’s most powerful telescopes to do research on a range of topics, including star formation, exploding stars, and quasars. He also uses these telescopes to create breathtaking images of space, many of which have been featured in the news. His team has produced over 500 images, including over 200 appearances on NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD). Most recently he was part of the team that produced the first images from the Rubin Observatory, which were released in June 2025.