Articles tagged with X Ray Astronomy
The XMM-Newton and Chandra space telescopes have spotted the aftermath of three bright explosions echoing through the Milky Way's outer spiral arms. The team measured the distance to these echoes directly, finding two arms - Outer Scutum-Centaurus Arm and Outer Arm - lie up to 10% further away than previously thought.
A team of astronomers has identified a rare stellar system that provides a unique natural laboratory to study extreme physics. The system, called ASKAP J1745−5051, consists of a white dwarf and a red dwarf star, producing powerful bursts of radio waves and X-rays.
A team of researchers at Kyoto University used NICER and Hisaki to study a superflare on the star UX Arietis, finding that photoionization is the dominant mechanism behind the iron Kα line. This discovery provides a diagnostic tool for astronomers to infer flare locations on stellar surfaces.
Scientists in Japan developed a high-resolution X-ray telescope using precision mirror-making technology, capable of distinguishing objects 3.5 mm wide from 1 km away. The telescope was tested on the ground using a unique evaluation system before launch on the FOXSI sounding rocket mission.
Astronomers have solved a 50-year-old mystery surrounding the star gamma-Cas, revealing that its unusual high-energy X-rays are linked to the orbital motion of an invisible white dwarf companion. This breakthrough was made possible by unique high-resolution observations from the European Space Agency's XRISM mission.
A team of scientists used Solar Orbiter's instruments to capture a large solar flare in unprecedented detail. The observations revealed that the flare was triggered by initially weak disturbances that quickly became more violent, creating a 'sky' of raining plasma blobs.
Evidence suggests Sagittarius A* flared dramatically within the past few hundred to 1,000 years, according to X-ray emissions observed by XRISM. The findings unveil new details of supermassive black hole evolution and provide lessons about our cosmic home.
The European Space Agency-led Solar Orbiter mission has split energetic particles into two groups, tracing them back to distinct solar outbursts. Researchers found that one type of particle is connected to intense solar flares and the other to larger coronal mass ejections.
Researchers detected sulfur in both gas and solid phases using data from the XRISM spacecraft, providing unprecedented insight into its presence in the universe. The findings are based on measurements of X-rays from two binary star systems and suggest that sulfur can easily change between these forms.
Researchers found a huge filament of hot gas in the Shapley Supercluster, containing some of the Universe's 'missing' matter. The discovery was made using XMM-Newton and Suzaku space telescopes, revealing a thread of gas stretching over 23 million light-years.
Astronomers used NASA's NICER to map debris from cosmic black holes, revealing the physical environment of repeating X-ray outbursts near monster black holes. The study found that each impact resulted in about a Jupiter's worth of mass reaching expansion velocities around 15% of the speed of light.
Researchers have discovered flows of hot gas in the Centaurus Cluster core, shedding light on how galactic clusters stay hot through 'sloshing' caused by collisions. This solves the longstanding mystery of cluster core heating and provides new insights into the formation and evolution of galactic clusters.
The Einstein Probe mission aims to probe X-ray transient sources and explosive astrophysical phenomena, contributing significantly to astronomical research. The mission's sophisticated observational instruments will enhance the detection of sudden X-ray transients and monitor variability in known celestial sources.
A team of researchers has discovered a new pattern in the high-energy jet of particles blasted by the supermassive black hole at the center of galaxy Centaurus A. The study found that the speed of one knot in the X-ray jet was at least 94% the speed of light, significantly faster than previously measured speeds using radio observations.
Two UMD Astronomy space probes, AXIS and PRIMA, have advanced to the next round of consideration for a $1 billion NASA mission. AXIS will study X-rays from stars and black holes, while PRIMA will explore far-infrared radiation to understand galaxy formation.
Researchers, including WVU astronomer Emmanuel Fonseca, use radio pulsars to detect gravitational waves generated by massive objects. The study will merge data from the Green Bank Telescope and CHIME radio telescope to achieve full coverage of each wave, revealing information about phenomenon and objects in distant galaxies.
Researchers discovered nine X-ray flares from Sagittarius A* and analyzed a decade's worth of data to understand the black hole's environment. They also examined the black hole's activity using echoes from a giant molecular cloud, providing insights into its past activity.
Researchers have discovered a novel galactic 'fossil' in the spiral galaxy NGC 4945, which sheds light on the evolution of galaxies. The X-rays outline giant clouds of cold gas that were blasted through the galaxy after its central supermassive black hole erupted 5 million years ago.
Astronomers using NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory discovered a black hole repeatedly nibbling on a Sun-like star in a distant galaxy. The object was detected using a new method for analyzing data from the satellite's X-ray Telescope, enabling it to adapt to new areas of astrophysics.
Astronomers have discovered a 'missing link' in the behavior of black holes and their impact on nearby stars. The discovery reveals that a low-mass black hole is consuming the equivalent mass of three Earths every time it passes close to a star, releasing massive amounts of X-rays.
An international team of scientists has discovered an echo emitted by the supermassive black hole at the centre of the Milky Way, which emerged from a long period of dormancy 200 years ago. The black hole, four million times more massive than the Sun, gobbled up cosmic objects before re-entering quiescence.
Researchers discovered that black hole jets exhibit surprising variability in x-ray emissions over short time scales, contradicting a long-held theory. This finding opens up new possibilities for understanding particle acceleration in these jets and potentially elsewhere in the universe.
A team of astronomers has observed the most luminous quasar in 9 billion years, shedding light on its interaction with its environment. The study found that the quasar's black hole is growing at a rate of 100 solar masses per year and emitting powerful winds into the host galaxy.
Researchers at Ohio State University found that the shells of galactic bubbles are more complex than previously thought, with unexpected temperature and chemical properties. The study suggests that these bubbles were formed by intense star-formation activity rather than supermassive black hole activity.
An international research team explores ultra-fast gas emissions from active galactic nuclei, which significantly change galaxy ecosystems. The study confirms the existence of these powerful emissions and their role in regulating star formation.
A team of astronomers has discovered an ultramassive black hole in the foreground galaxy, with a mass estimated to be over 30 billion times that of our Sun. This massive object was detected using gravitational lensing and supercomputer simulations.
Astronomers have discovered a galaxy with a unique activity in its core, leading to a reclassification as a giant radio galaxy. The PBC J2333.9-2343 galaxy has a blazar at its center with jets that changed direction drastically by up to 90 degrees.
A study published in Nature Astronomy suggests that a volcano-like rupture on the surface of a neutron star could have caused its sudden slowdown. The research used X-ray data from orbiting telescopes to analyze the magnetar's rotation and found evidence supporting this theory.
Researchers observed a sudden slowing of the star's angular momentum, followed by three Fast Radio Burst-like radio bursts and a month-long episode of pulsed radio emission. The synchronicity of these events suggests an association between magnetar spin-down glitches and radio emissions.
Large gamma-ray emitting bubbles are produced by fast blowing outward winds and the associated reverse shock. Numerical simulations successfully reproduced the temperature profile observed by an X-ray telescope, supporting this scenario.
A research team proposes that magnetic reconnection around black holes energizes plasma, producing copious electron-positron pairs loaded into radio jets. This explanation aligns with M87 observations and predicts short-term X-ray emission when plasma is loaded.
A team of scientists from Tokyo Metropolitan University created unprecedentedly lightweight optics for X-ray space telescopes by employing Micro Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) technology. By refining the patterning and annealing process, they achieved ultra-sharp features that rival existing telescopes in performance while significan...
A recent analysis of the 2017 GW170817 merger suggests that a rapid spin delay may have prolonged the merger, producing excess X-ray emissions. The radiation is thought to be produced by shocked material in the circumbinary medium, hinting at a bounce from the delayed collapse.
Astronomers have observed the moment that debris from destroyed planets impacts a white dwarf star for the first time, confirming decades of indirect evidence. The event was detected using X-rays and provides direct measurement of accretion of rocky material onto a white dwarf.
A team of researchers observed the evolution of warm gas coming from an active black hole for unprecedented detail, revealing structures reminiscent of volcanic eruptions. These gas bubbles, rings, and 'intergalactic smoke' filaments are formed when black holes consume surrounding matter and release energy, influencing galaxy evolution.
Astronomers observe a tidal disruption event caused by an intermediate-mass black hole consuming a star, providing the first measurements of its mass and spin. The findings shed light on the elusive category of intermediate black holes, which may account for most black holes in galaxy centers.
Researchers have discovered a uniquely shaped hot spot on a baby star 450 million light-years away, providing new clues about the formation of our solar system. The discovery confirms accretion models and sheds light on how young stars grow.
A research team has explained the cause of Jupiter's X-ray aurorae, a phenomenon puzzling scientists for decades. The study found that heavy ions with mega-electron volt energies produce the auroral flares, triggered by magnetic compression and electromagnetic waves in Jupiter's magnetosphere.
Researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery at the center of our galaxy, revealing an X-ray thread and hinting at a previously unknown interstellar energy source. The findings provide the clearest picture yet of a pair of X-ray-emitting plumes emerging from the region near the massive black hole.
Astrophysicists identify distinctive signatures of stellar-mass black holes in archival X-ray data, separating them from neutron stars. This is the strongest steady signature of stellar-mass black holes to date.
William Zhang won the Goddard Technology Award for developing ultra-lightweight and sensitive X-ray mirrors using mono-crystalline silicon. This innovation could represent a paradigm shift in X-ray astronomy, enabling more efficient and detailed observations of celestial targets.
The ASAS-SN telescope network discovered a tidal disruption event in 2019, which was followed up with observations from NASA's Swift satellite and TESS. The team captured the event's evolution, revealing unique characteristics such as a smooth increase in brightness and a young host galaxy.
A team of scientists from the University of Leicester has detected a curious signal in the X-ray sky that could be the first direct indication of dark matter. The signal appears to be consistent with the prediction of axions, particles believed to make up a significant portion of the universe's mass.
The NASA Swift satellite detected a series of powerful stellar flares from the nearby red dwarf star DG CVn, with temperatures reaching 360 million degrees Fahrenheit. The flares were triggered by rapid spin and amplifying magnetic fields, making them one of the longest-lasting events ever recorded.
Astronomers have discovered the youngest known neutron-star binary, Circinus X-1, which is approximately 4,600 years old. The team used data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory to determine the age of this record-breaking pair, revealing a unique opportunity to study matter under extreme conditions.
Astronomers discovered a neutron star that can transform from a radio pulsar into an X-ray pulsar and back again, with its behavior fueled by a nearby companion star. The unusual behavior provides new insights into the birth of millisecond pulsars.
John Hawley and Steven Balbus were recognized for their discovery that magnetic fields make accretion disks unstable, solving a fundamental problem in astrophysics. Their work transformed the field of accretion disk theory and earned them the $1 million Shaw Prize award.
Astronomers analyzed X-ray observations from the Suzaku satellite to understand the composition of Kepler's supernova, finding it held roughly three times the amount of metals as the sun. This discovery will aid in fine-tuning knowledge of the universe beyond our galaxy.
Rachel Somerville's research focuses on creating computer models that simulate galaxy formation and evolution. Her work helps astronomers understand how galaxies first formed and how they continue to evolve in the contemporary universe.
Two University of Leicester scientists, Dr Duncan Law-Green and Mr David Boyce, are designing microgravity experiments to study regolith on the Moon. The experiments could provide valuable information for future human missions to the Moon in 2020.
The American Institute of Physics (AIP) has awarded the 2008 Dannie Heineman Prizes to Mitchell Feigenbaum for his work on deterministic chaos and Andrew Fabian for his pioneering research in X-ray astronomy. These awards recognize their significant contributions to their respective fields.
Astronomers observed a massive star suffering a double whammy, with the star surviving one outburst before exploding as Supernova 2006jc. The study found that the supernova's blast wave interacted with material ejected by the star two years earlier, indicating a unique stellar evolution process.
Astronomers have discovered a new FU-Orionis-type star, which is an extremely young star about the same mass as the sun. The discovery provides insights into the formation of our solar system and allows for the study of X-ray emissions in these stars.
Researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory presented preliminary findings associating unique gas flows with rapidly rotating black holes. The study aims to explain unusual periodic timing properties in X-rays emitted near suspected black holes.
NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory has detected nearly a thousand faint X-ray-emitting stars in the young star-forming region of the Orion Nebula. The discovery will help unravel the astrophysical principles underlying violent magnetic activity in young stars.