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NASA Discovers Mysterious Low-Energy X-Ray Sources
Confirmed
In Short: NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory has identified 84 new cosmic objects emitting unusually low-energy X-rays but intense ultraviolet radiation.
NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory has discovered a new class of cosmic objects emitting unusually low-energy X-rays but intense ultraviolet radiation, according to a recent paper published in Nature Astronomy.
These objects, dubbed 'hypersoft X-ray sources,' were found in six different galaxies, including the Andromeda and Pinwheel galaxies, using data from the Chandra archive.
The team identified these sources by comparing Chandra's high- and low-energy X-ray images, noting that the objects appeared in low-energy images but vanished in higher-energy ones.
Muhibullah, a researcher involved in the study, noted that these sources could potentially solve two long-standing cosmic mysteries.
Further research is needed to determine the true identity of these mysterious cosmic objects, which could provide new insights into the workings of the universe.
What's confirmed
- “These clandestine X-ray sources are actually among the most energetic objects in galaxies, and they could be solving two cosmic mysteries at once,” said Muhibullah.
What's still developing
- They found hypersoft X-ray sources both in regions of active star formation and areas where there are older stars.
- Because low-energy X-rays border energetic ultraviolet radiation on the electromagnetic spectrum, the researchers determined that these sources are producing large amounts of energetic ultraviolet radiation as well.
- To learn more about NASA’s Chandra mission, visit: This release features a composite image of a spiral galaxy, M101; one of six identified galaxies housing a new class of mysterious objects that give off unusually low-energy X-rays.
- Such material would heat as it fell into one of the three suggested objects, theoretically producing the observed X-rays.
- While these types of binary systems have all been observed previously, this combination of ultraviolet radiation and low-energy X-rays hasn’t been associated with them.
- “Of course, the next step was to try to figure out what these things are.” The new research used data from a publicly accessible Chandra archive provided by NASA, including the spiral Andromeda and Pinwheel galaxies and an additional four elliptical galaxies.
- NASA administrator Jared Isaacman said at a postlaunch press conference that all systems appear nominal after launch.
- “The telescope will provide a vast new atlas of the universe,” Isaacman said.