X-ray astronomy is a branch of astronomy that studies astronomical objects and phenomena that emit X-rays, which are high-energy electromagnetic waves. Because X-ray radiation is absorbed by Earth's atmosphere, X-ray observations cannot be made from the ground. Instead, X-ray astronomers utilize satellites and space-based observatories to detect and analyze these high-energy emissions.
Astronomical X-ray sources are celestial objects that emit significant amounts of X-ray radiation. These sources can be quite diverse and include a variety of astrophysical phenomena, typically associated with high-energy processes. Some common types of astronomical X-ray sources include: 1. **X-ray Binaries**: These systems consist of a normal star and a compact object, such as a black hole or neutron star.
ROSAT (Rosat Satelliten) was a German-led satellite mission launched in 1990 designed primarily for the study of X-ray emissions from celestial sources. The mission had significant impacts on the field of astrophysics, particularly in the understanding of various astronomical objects and phenomena. It operated until 1999 and was instrumental in surveying the sky in X-ray wavelengths.
X-ray telescopes are specialized instruments designed to observe and analyze X-rays emitted by astronomical objects. Unlike optical telescopes, which capture visible light, X-ray telescopes are built to detect high-energy electromagnetic radiation in the X-ray spectrum. This range of wavelengths is typically emitted by extremely hot celestial objects, such as black holes, neutron stars, supernova remnants, and gas in galaxy clusters. **Key Features of X-ray Telescopes:** 1.
1RXS refers to a specific catalog of X-ray sources compiled from observations made by the ROSAT (ROentgen SATellite) mission, which operated from 1990 to 1999. The "1RXS" catalog includes a wide variety of celestial objects detected in X-rays, including stars, galaxies, and various types of stellar remnants like neutron stars and black holes.
The Cygnus Loop, also known as the Veil Nebula, is a prominent supernova remnant located in the constellation Cygnus. It is part of a larger structure that was formed by the explosion of a massive star approximately 20,000 years ago, which is believed to have occurred about 5,000 to 8,000 years ago in human time.
Cygnus X-3 is a high-mass X-ray binary star system located in the constellation Cygnus, approximately 7,000 light-years away from Earth. It consists of a compact object, believed to be a black hole or a neutron star, and a massive companion star, which is a Wolf-Rayet star. The system is notable for its strong X-ray emissions, which are produced when the compact object accretes matter from its companion star.
Filippo Frontera is an Italian astrophysicist known for his work in high-energy astrophysics and space science. He has been involved in various research projects and has contributed to scientific studies related to gamma-ray astronomy and cosmic rays. One of his notable contributions is his involvement in the development and operation of space-borne instruments designed to study cosmic phenomena.
GRS 1124-683 is an astronomical X-ray binary system located in the constellation Musca. It consists of a massive blue companion star and a black hole or neutron star. The system is notable for being one of the brightest X-ray sources in the sky and has been studied extensively to understand the processes of mass transfer and the behavior of matter in extreme gravitational fields.
G 117-B15A is a designation for a specific exoplanet found in the constellation of Cassiopeia. It is known to orbit the star G 117-B15, a white dwarf. This system has garnered interest in the study of planetary formation and evolution, particularly in relation to the characteristics of planets that orbit stars that have undergone significant transformations, such as transitioning from main sequence stars to white dwarfs.
HR 3643, known as the "Women's Health Protection Act of 2021," is a piece of legislation introduced in the U.S. Congress aimed at protecting the right to access abortion services. The bill seeks to codify the protections established by the landmark Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade, which guaranteed the right to choose an abortion.
Hercules X-1, also known as 1Herculis or A0538-66, is a binary star system located in the constellation of Hercules, approximately 6,000 light-years away from Earth. It is particularly notable for being an X-ray binary with a neutron star as one of its components. The system consists of a neutron star, which is a remnant of a supernova explosion, and a companion star that is typically a supergiant.
The Lockman Hole is a well-known region in the sky, particularly notable for its low density of foreground cosmic structures, such as stars and gas in our own Milky Way galaxy. This makes it an ideal location for astronomical observations across various wavelengths, especially in the infrared and radio bands. Located in the constellation Ursa Major, the Lockman Hole covers an area of approximately 20 square degrees. Its name comes from astronomer J.
MAXI, or the Monitor of All-sky X-ray Image, is an experiment mounted on the International Space Station (ISS) designed to monitor X-ray sources in the universe. Launched in July 2009, it aims to detect X-ray emissions from various celestial objects, such as black holes, neutron stars, supernova remnants, and other high-energy phenomena. MAXI operates as a wide-field, all-sky monitor and continuously surveys the entire sky for transient X-ray sources.
MS 0735.6+7421 is a galaxy cluster located in the constellation Camelopardalis. It is known for being one of the most powerful galaxy clusters, notable for its significant amount of X-ray emission. This cluster has attracted attention due to the presence of a central active supermassive black hole, which has been observed to produce jets that extend out into the surrounding hot gas, influencing the dynamics and structure of the cluster. One of the most remarkable aspects of MS 0735.
Messier 15 (M15), also known as NGC 7078, is a globular cluster located in the constellation Pegasus. It is one of the oldest globular clusters known, with an estimated age of around 13 billion years. M15 contains hundreds of thousands of stars and is notable for its densely packed core, which makes it one of the most concentrated globular clusters in our galaxy.
NGC 4151 is a Seyfert galaxy located in the constellation Ursa Major. It is classified as a type 1 Seyfert galaxy, which is characterized by having broad emission lines in its spectrum, indicating the presence of a supermassive black hole at its center surrounded by an accretion disk.
NeVe 1 refers to a specific type of fiber-optic communication system or network. However, without more context, it's difficult to provide a precise definition, as "NeVe 1" could also pertain to various other fields, such as technology, gaming, or even product names.
PoGOLite is a balloon-borne experiment designed to study celestial gamma-ray sources, particularly pulsars and other high-energy astrophysical phenomena. The name "PoGOLite" stands for "Polarized Gamma-ray Observer: Lite," which reflects the experiment's focus on measuring the polarization of gamma rays. The main objectives of PoGOLite are to improve understanding of the nature of gamma-ray emissions from various astrophysical sources, as well as to explore the mechanisms behind these emissions.
A super soft X-ray source (SSS) is a type of astronomical object that emits X-rays in the "soft" X-ray range, typically between 0.1 and about 2 keV. These sources are characterized by their relatively low temperatures compared to other X-ray sources, which means that their emissions are primarily from lower-energy photons. Super soft X-ray sources are often linked to certain types of binary systems, particularly those involving white dwarfs.
An Ultraluminous X-ray Source (ULX) is a type of astronomical object that emits an extraordinary amount of X-ray radiation, significantly more than typical X-ray binaries. ULXs are defined as having luminosities greater than 10^39 erg/s (or about 10^36 watts), which exceeds the Eddington limit for a stellar black hole (a theoretical maximum luminosity based on the balance between the outward radiation pressure and the inward gravitational force).
X-ray astronomy detectors are specialized instruments used to observe and analyze X-ray emissions from astronomical sources, such as stars, supernova remnants, black holes, and galaxy clusters. Unlike optical telescopes that capture visible light, X-ray telescopes and their detectors are designed to detect high-energy radiation emitted in the X-ray part of the electromagnetic spectrum.
X-ray astronomy satellites are specialized spacecraft designed to observe astronomical objects in the X-ray portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. These satellites play a crucial role in studying high-energy phenomena in the universe, such as black holes, neutron stars, supernova remnants, and cosmic microwave background radiation. Because Earth's atmosphere absorbs X-rays, ground-based observation of these wavelengths is not possible. Therefore, X-ray astronomy satellites are launched into space to detect and analyze X-ray emissions from various celestial sources.
The X-ray background refers to the diffuse and persistent emission of X-rays from various cosmic sources. This background radiation can be classified into several components, primarily stemming from: 1. **Cosmic X-ray Background (CXB)**: This is the cumulative emission of X-rays from numerous unresolved sources such as distant galaxies, active galactic nuclei (AGN), and clusters of galaxies.
In astronomy, an X-ray flash (XRF) is a type of transient astronomical event characterized by the brief emission of X-rays. X-ray flashes are often associated with the explosive emissions from astrophysical phenomena, such as gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) or the collapse of massive stars leading to supernovae. X-ray flashes are typically shorter than gamma-ray bursts and are believed to be among the early signatures of such explosive events, often occurring before the more energetic gamma rays.
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