#X-ray astronomy

All articles tagged with "X-ray astronomy"

NASA’s IXPE observed the outer rim of the supernova remnant highlighted in purple in the inset. Data from IXPE is combined with data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and ESA’s XMM-Newton. The yellow represents low-energy X-rays, while blue shows high-energy X-rays detected by Chandra and XMM-Newton. The starfield in the image comes from the National Science Foundation’s National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory (NOILab).

NASA's IXPE Finds Expansion Mystery Solved in 2,000-Year-Old Supernova

NASA's Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer has revealed a 'reflected shock effect' at the outer edge of RCW 86 that explains why this 2,000-year-old supernova remnant halted its unusually fast expansion.

Key Takeaways

NASA's IXPE detected a 'reflected shock effect' at the rim of RCW 86 where its unusually rapid expansion has halted
The Chandra observatory had previously found a low-density cavity surrounding the remnant that caused abnormally fast expansion

DT Editorial Team·Mar 25, 2026·via nasa.gov

NASA's XRISM Spacecraft Peers Into the 'Eye of the Storm' Around Supermassive Black Holes

The joint NASA-JAXA X-ray mission XRISM has revealed the most violent turbulence ever detected in a galaxy cluster, centered on the supermassive black hole M87*. The spacecraft's unprecedented ability to measure gas velocities has transformed our understanding of how black holes shape their cosmic surroundings.

Key Takeaways

XRISM detected the most violent turbulence ever recorded in a galaxy cluster, centered on black hole M87*
The spacecraft can measure gas velocities around black holes for the first time, a capability no previous X-ray telescope possessed

DT Editorial Team·Feb 21, 2026·7 min read·via space.com