Astrophysics Branch
Marshall Space Flight Center's Astrophysics Branch uses space and ground-based observatories to peer back to the earliest epochs of the universe, unravel its mysteries, and study the most violent explosions in our galaxy and beyond. Our goal is to help discover how the universe works, explore how it began and evolved, and search for life on planets around other stars.
On 10/23/23, the Astrophysical Journal published online “The Polarized Cosmic Hand: IXPE Observations of PSR B1509−58/MSH 15−52” by Roger W. Romani et al. On 10/27/23, the Astrophysical Journal published online “Magnetic structures and turbulence in SN 1006 revealed with imaging …
Latest Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) Discovery Papers Read More »
Chandra X-ray Observatory and the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) data have been used to examine the pulsar wind nebula known as MSH 15-52. Pulsar wind nebulae are clouds of energetic particles blown away from dead, collapsed stars. In 2001, …
X-ray Telescopes Reveal the “Bones” of a Ghostly Cosmic Hand Read More »
On 11/2/23, the Chandra Program’s Flight Director Board approved the Normal Sun Offset Flight Software Patch. This patch will change the spacecraft attitude an intermediate saving action, Normal Sun Mode, from 90 degrees to 160 degrees. This will prevent longer …
Chandra Flight Director’s Board approves Normal Sun Offset Flight Software Patch Read More »
On 10/28/23, Astrophysics Branch scientists Stephen Bongiorno and Lynnie Saade represented Chandra at the 2023 Huntsville STEAMfest NASA booth. The yearly festival, held this year for the third time, is designed to engage students and their families on the topics …
Chandra Exhibit Inspires Families at Huntsville STEAMfest 2023 Read More »
NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Engineering Technicians John Hood, Amy Meekham, and Mark Sloan discuss details of their work on the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer. A joint effort between NASA and the Italian Space Agency, the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer …