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.
Scientists have confirmed that the tail of hot gas behind a galaxy group is the longest yet seen. NGC 4839 is plunging into the Coma Cluster and leaving a streak that glows in X-rays. A new study using NASA’s Chandra …
Chandra and NGC 4829: Galaxies Go on a Deep Dive and Leave a Fiery Trail Behind Read More »
On 6/19/23, Astronomy & Astrophysics published online “Discovery of strongly variable X-ray polarization in the neutron star low-mass X-ray binary transient XTE J1701-462” by Massimo Cocchi et al. On 6/30/23, they published online “A polarimetrically oriented X-ray stare at the …
Numerous Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) Discovery Papers Published Read More »
Chandra supported the NASA MSFC discussions and presentations at the 2023 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival. Debra J. Wallace (ST10) gave a presentation on Chandra science, its important role in multi-messenger astronomy, and the upcoming 25th Anniversary of Chandra’s launch. …
On 6/21/23, Nature published “X-ray polarization evidence for a 200-year-old flare of Sgr A*” by Frédéric Marin et al. This is the 23rd discovery paper published by the IXPE Science Team. On 6/21/23, NASA posted “Milky Way’s Central Black Hole …
On 7/10-11/23, the European Astronomical Society (EAS) hosted symposium “Multiwavelength Polarization: from Radio to Gamma-Rays” at its annual meeting (7/10-14/23; Kraków, Poland). Ten IXPE-related papers were presented, plus two in regular sessions. Invited talks included “Imaging X-Ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) …
Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) Symposium at EAS 2023 Read More »