X-ray astronomy is the research area focused on detecting, imaging, and spectroscopically analyzing cosmic sources of X-ray photons, typically in the energy range of ~0.1–100 keV. Because Earth’s atmosphere is opaque to X-rays, this field relies on space-based observatories employing grazing-incidence optics, focusing telescopes, and high-resolution detectors such as CCDs, microcalorimeters, and proportional counters. X-ray astronomy probes high-energy astrophysical processes, including accretion onto compact objects, hot intracluster gas, supernova remnants, stellar coronae, and relativistic jets, enabling quantitative studies of extreme environments, plasma conditions, strong gravity, and energetic feedback in galaxies and large-scale structure.
NASA has released three new pieces of cosmic sound that are associated with the densest and darkest members of our universe: black holes. These scientific productions are sonifications—or translations into sound—of data collected ...
Astronomy
May 8, 2025
0
56
Japanese astronomers have presented new results of observations that suggest an unidentified X-ray source designated AX J145732−5901 is a cluster of galaxies behind the galactic plane. The findings are detailed in a research ...
Astronomers have employed the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) and the Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) to observe the X-ray pulsar RX J0032.9-7348 in a broadband X-ray energy range. Results ...
The blazar BL Lacertae, a supermassive black hole surrounded by a bright disk and jets oriented toward Earth, provided scientists with a unique opportunity to answer a longstanding question: How are X-rays generated in extreme ...
Astronomy
May 6, 2025
0
209
For the first time, astronomers have probed the physical environment of repeating X-ray outbursts near monster black holes thanks to data from NASA's NICER (Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer) and other missions.
Astronomy
May 6, 2025
0
89
Astronomers have discovered a likely explanation for a fracture in a huge cosmic "bone" in the Milky Way galaxy, using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and radio telescopes.
Astronomy
May 2, 2025
2
143
Using the Spektr-RG (SRG) space observatory, astronomers from the Russian Academy of Sciences have inspected a radio-loud quasar known as SRGA J2306+1556, which is extremely luminous in the X-ray band. Results of the new ...
Using NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR), Indian astronomers have observed an X-ray binary system designated SXP 138. Results of the NuSTAR observations, published March 26 on thearXiv pre-print server, ...
New three-dimensional (3D) models of objects in space have been released by NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory. These 3D models allow people to explore—and print—examples of stars in the early and end stages of their lives. ...
Astronomy
Apr 17, 2025
0
70
A massive black hole at the heart of a galaxy in the Virgo constellation is waking up, shooting out intense X-ray flares at regular intervals that have puzzled scientists, a study said Friday.
Astronomy
Apr 13, 2025
0
192
