First image from IXPE
NASA today released the first image produced from its new X-ray space telescope, the Imaging X-Ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE).
The photo to the right is that image, showing the intensity of X-rays coming from the supernovae remnant Cassiopeia A. From the caption:
Colors ranging from cool purple and blue to red and hot white correspond with the increasing brightness of the X-rays. The image was created using X-ray data collected by IXPE between Jan. 11-18.
Though Chandra also detects objects in X-rays, IXPE will also detect their polarization, or the way the rays are oriented as they travel through space.
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NASA today released the first image produced from its new X-ray space telescope, the Imaging X-Ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE).
The photo to the right is that image, showing the intensity of X-rays coming from the supernovae remnant Cassiopeia A. From the caption:
Colors ranging from cool purple and blue to red and hot white correspond with the increasing brightness of the X-rays. The image was created using X-ray data collected by IXPE between Jan. 11-18.
Though Chandra also detects objects in X-rays, IXPE will also detect their polarization, or the way the rays are oriented as they travel through space.
Readers!
My annual February birthday fund-raising drive for Behind the Black is now over. Thank you to everyone who donated or subscribed. While not a record-setter, the donations were more than sufficient and slightly above average.
As I have said many times before, I can’t express what it means to me to get such support, especially as no one is required to pay anything to read my work. Thank you all again!
For those readers who like my work here at Behind the Black and haven't contributed so far, please consider donating or subscribing. My analysis of space, politics, and culture, taken from the perspective of an historian, is almost always on the money and ahead of the game. For example, in 2020 I correctly predicted that the COVID panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Every one of those 2020 conclusions has turned out right.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are four ways of doing so:
1. Zelle: This is the only internet method that charges no fees. All you have to do is use the Zelle link at your internet bank and give my name and email address (zimmerman at nasw dot org). What you donate is what I get.
2. Patreon: Go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation.
3. A Paypal Donation or subscription:
4. Donate by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman and mailed to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652
You can also support me by buying one of my books, as noted in the boxes interspersed throughout the webpage or shown in the menu above.
speaking of polarization….
Brian Keating & Lex Fridman
“Why Elon Musk Should Fund Astronomy” (1-22-22)
https://youtu.be/xOPMPqMnwaM
0:35
“420 is the number…funding secured…”
IXPE has not gotten much attention, but I think it sounds fantastic! It is the first ever telescope that can observe polarized X-rays. In strong magnetic fields, electrons emit photons at X-ray energies. And they are polarized according to the magnetic field lines. So this telescope will see the orientation of strong magnetic fields. I think primarily those caused by supermassiv black holes.
A new addition to the range of so called “multi-messenger” astronomy spanning over domains like the strength, spectra and time variation of light, neutrinos, gravitational waves. And of course locally in the Solar system, the physical sampling of objects, seismometry and weather on Mars and one day probably sampling of interstellar comets.
Magnetic fields seems to be the physics that is hardest to work theoretically in astrophysics. So breakthrough data there has great potential. Often when there’s a new mystery in astrophysics, for example Fast Radio Bursts, magnetars, i.e. extremely magnetized neutron stars, is the usual suspect. But theoretical models don’t seem to keep up very well because it is really very difficult stuff.
Talking about magnetic fields, here’s an account of Nicolai Tesla’s 100 year prediction for society made in 1926. Some very striking hits, some misses:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q81yDzD85lI
I like that YT-channel overall, Voices of the Past.