X-ray

A newly released map shows our home galaxy in a new light. The eROSITA telescope has scanned the entire sky in X-rays, painting a colorful portrait that reveals large-scale structures and hundreds of thousands of previously unknown X-ray sources.

In the galaxy GSN 069, a star has survived a close encounter with a black hole, ending up in orbit around it. Material pulled off the star turned it from a red giant into a white dwarf, and in about a trillion years it may actually become a planet.

One of the core components of cosmology is the understanding that the universe is expanding evenly in all directions. But new X-ray observations now suggest that this may not be the case after all – certain areas may be expanding faster than others.

An emerging method is adapting x-ray to image soft tissue, so that its higher resolution can reveal tumors earlier than MRI or ultrasound. And now, researchers have taken the first image using the new x-ray method, as a proof of concept.

Unifying conflicting models into a “Theory of Everything” is the Holy Grail of physics. Now a NASA observatory has conducted an experimental test, scouring the sky for evidence of a hypothetical particle that could tie the universe together.

Astronomers have found evidence of the most powerful explosion in the universe. The crater of the intergalactic-scale detonation was caused by a supermassive black hole located in the Ophiuchus galaxy cluster 390 million light-years from Earth.

Astronomers have spotted a tiny, cool star putting on a stellar light show that would shame our Sun. This X-ray “superflare” was 10 times more powerful than anything the Sun can produce, and is completely unexpected for a star this small.

A collection of computer simulations based on data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray observatory is offering astronomers and the public alike the ability to explore cosmic objects in 3D. The visualizations let users pan around stars and supernovae remnants.

The cosmic beauty of space never ceases to impress. New Atlas rounds up some of the most incredible space photos of 2019, including historic firsts, stunning starscapes, gorgeous galaxies and some new angles on our own solar system.

On August 20, an x-ray instrument on the ISS caught a bright x-ray burst from a pulsar thousands of light-years away, which released as much energy in 20 seconds as the Sun does in 10 days. Now a NASA team has outlined what they believe caused it.

In NGC 6946, better known as the Fireworks galaxy, an extremely bright flare of X-rays was seen to appear and disappear within a matter of weeks.

NASA has celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Chandra X-ray Observatory's orbital life with a collection of new images that reflect the beauty and scientific importance of the veteran space telescope's work.