X-Rays from Uranus Shows Ice Giant in New Light
X-rays are spotted coming from Uranus. What is causing this intriguing display?
X-rays are spotted radiating from the ice giant Uranus for the first time. What’s causing them?
Far from the Sun, near the outer limits of our solar system, the ice giant Uranus slowly orbits its distant parent star. For the first time, astronomers have seen X-rays emanating from this distant world.
The Chandra X-ray observatory, launched in 1999, examines the Universe in X-rays, highly-energetic wavelengths of electromagnetic energy most commonly associated with diagnosing broken bones.
“NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory is a telescope specially designed to detect X-ray emission from very hot regions of the Universe such as exploded stars, clusters of galaxies, and matter around black holes. Because X-rays are absorbed by Earth’s atmosphere, Chandra must orbit above it, up to an altitude of 139,000 km (86,500 mi) in space,” NASA describes.
A new study of observations shows this world — literally — in a new light.
Join us on Astronomy News with The Cosmic Companion starting April 13, when we will talk with Affelia Wibisono of University College London, researcher on this study.
April is going to be an exciting month on Astronomy News with The Cosmic Companion! Here’s a look at our upcoming guests:
April 6 (s4/14): A look forward to Yuri’s Night – the 60th anniversary of the first human spaceflight and the 40th anniversary of the first launch of the Space Shuttle with a special appearance from three-time shuttle astronaut Dr. Kathryn D. Sullivan, the first American woman to walk in space. She was NOAA Administrator under President Obama, and just became the first woman to visit the deepest point in the ocean.
April 13 (s4/e15): Affelia Wibisono of University College London, discussing the recent discovery of X-rays from Uranus.
April 20 (s4/e16): Andrew Fazekas, Nat Geo’s “Night Sky Guy,” talking about his National Geographic Backyard Guide to the Night Sky.
April 27 (s4/e17): Ohad Harlev, CEO of Lyteloop, discussing new technology to store data in space.
For more details on space and astronomy news, please visit: thecosmiccompanion.net or thecosmiccompanion.com.
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- James