Chandra Resolves the Hard X Ray Background
Explanation:
It is everywhere but nobody knew why.
In every direction at all times, the
sky glows in
X-rays.
The
X-ray background phenomenon was discovered over 35 years ago,
soon after the first
X-ray satellites were launched,
and has since gone unexplained.
Yesterday
results were released using data from the recently launched
Chandra X-Ray Observatory
that appears to have resolved much of this mystery.
The
above photograph shows that about 80 percent of the apparently diffuse
hard X-ray background
can be resolved into very many very faint sources.
The new question is now what are these sources?
Early speculation, much of which
predates these observations, holds that many of these sources are the
active centers of
distant galaxies,
probably involving
massive black holes.
Still other sources may be of origins currently unknown.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
