& Black Holes Research

NASA’s Chandra Finds Black Hole With Tremendous Growth – NASA

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NASA’s Chandra Finds Black Hole With Tremendous Growth – NASA

A black hole is growing at one of the fastest rates ever recorded, according to a team of astronomers. This discovery from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory may help explain how some black holes can reach enormous masses relatively quickly after the big bang. The black hole weighs about a billion times the mass of the … Read more

Astronomers Map Stellar ‘Polka Dots’ Using NASA’s TESS, Kepler – NASA Science

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Astronomers Map Stellar ‘Polka Dots’ Using NASA’s TESS, Kepler – NASA Science

Scientists have devised a new method for mapping the spottiness of distant stars by using observations from NASA missions of orbiting planets crossing their stars’ faces. The model builds on a technique researchers have used for decades to study star spots. By improving astronomers’ understanding of spotty stars, the new model — called StarryStarryProcess — … Read more

One Survey by NASA’s Roman Could Unveil 100,000 Cosmic Explosions – NASA

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One Survey by NASA’s Roman Could Unveil 100,000 Cosmic Explosions – NASA

Scientists predict one of the major surveys by NASA’s upcoming Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope may reveal around 100,000 celestial blasts, ranging from exploding stars to feeding black holes. Roman may even find evidence of some of the universe’s first stars, which are thought to completely self-destruct without leaving any remnant behind. Cosmic explosions offer … Read more

NASA’s Roman to Peer Into Cosmic ‘Lenses’ to Better Define Dark Matter – NASA

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NASA’s Roman to Peer Into Cosmic ‘Lenses’ to Better Define Dark Matter – NASA

A funky effect Einstein predicted, known as gravitational lensing — when a foreground galaxy magnifies more distant galaxies behind it — will soon become common when NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope begins science operations in 2027 and produces vast surveys of the cosmos. A particular subset of gravitational lenses, known as strong lenses, is … Read more

NASA’s NICER Maps Debris From Recurring Cosmic Crashes – NASA Science

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NASA’s NICER Maps Debris From Recurring Cosmic Crashes – NASA Science

Lee esta nota de prensa en español aquí. For the first time, astronomers have probed the physical environment of repeating X-ray outbursts near monster black holes thanks to data from NASA’s NICER (Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer) and other missions. Scientists have only recently encountered this class of X-ray flares, called QPEs, or quasi-periodic eruptions. … Read more

NICER Status Updates – NASA

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NICER Status Updates – NASA

Following Repair, NASA’s NICER Improves Daytime Measurements A NASA X-ray telescope on the International Space Station called NICER, or Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer, has regained additional daytime observation capabilities thanks to repairs completed during a spacewalk and a reconfiguration of its detectors. In May 2023, NICER developed a light leak in which unwanted sunlight … Read more

NASA Telescopes Deliver Stellar Bouquet in Time for Valentine’s Day – NASA

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NASA Telescopes Deliver Stellar Bouquet in Time for Valentine’s Day – NASA

A bouquet of thousands of stars in bloom has arrived. This composite image contains the deepest X-ray image ever made of the spectacular star forming region called 30 Doradus. By combining X-ray data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory (blue and green) with optical data from NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope (yellow) and radio data from the … Read more

Black Holes Can Cook for Themselves, Chandra Study Shows – NASA

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Black Holes Can Cook for Themselves, Chandra Study Shows – NASA

Astronomers have taken a crucial step in showing that the most massive black holes in the universe can create their own meals. Data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and the Very Large Telescope (VLT) provide new evidence that outbursts from black holes can help cool down gas to feed themselves. This study was based on … Read more

NICER Status Update – NASA

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NICER Status Update – NASA

NASA’s NICER Continues Science Operations Post Repair NASA crew aboard the International Space Station installed patches to the agency’s NICER (Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer) mission during a spacewalk on Jan. 16. NICER, an X-ray telescope perched near the station’s starboard solar array, resumed science operations later the same day. The patches cover areas of … Read more

New Simulated Universe Previews Panoramas From NASA’s Roman Telescope – NASA

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New Simulated Universe Previews Panoramas From NASA’s Roman Telescope – NASA

Astronomers have released a set of more than a million simulated images showcasing the cosmos as NASA’s upcoming Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will see it. This preview will help scientists explore a myriad of Roman’s science goals. “We used a supercomputer to create a synthetic universe and simulated billions of years of evolution, tracing … Read more