IXPE

Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer

active Mission

During IXPE's two-year mission, targets such as active galactic nuclei, microquasars, pulsars and pulsar wind nebulae, magnetars, accreting X-ray binaries, supernova remnants, and the Galactic center will be studied.

Type

Space Telescope

Launch

Dec. 9, 2021

Target

Universe

Objective

Study targets including active galactic nuclei, microquasars, pulsars and more

IXPE Stories

Explore All IXPE (Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer) Stories

Article

5 min read

NASA’s IXPE Helps Researchers Determine Shape of Black Hole Corona

Article

5 min read

How Students Learn to Fly NASA’s IXPE Spacecraft

A young woman holds a water bottle in front of a doorway with the words "Mission Operations Center" overhead.

1 min read

IXPE Operations Update

Article8 months ago

3 min read

NASA’s IXPE Awarded Prestigious Prize in High-energy Astronomy

Article10 months ago

4 min read

NASA’s IXPE Helps Researchers Maximize ‘Microquasar’ Findings

Article10 months ago

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The image is divided horizontally by an undulating line between a cloudscape forming a nebula along the bottom portion and a comparatively clear upper portion. Speckled across both portions is a starfield, showing innumerable stars of many sizes. The smallest of these are small, distant, and faint points of light. The largest of these appear larger, closer, brighter, and more fully resolved with 8-point diffraction spikes. The upper portion of the image is blueish, and has wispy translucent cloud-like streaks rising from the nebula below. The orangish cloudy formation in the bottom half varies in density and ranges from translucent to opaque. The stars vary in color, the majority of which have a blue or orange hue. The cloud-like structure of the nebula contains ridges, peaks, and valleys – an appearance very similar to a mountain range. Three long diffraction spikes from the top right edge of the image suggest the presence of a large star just out of view.

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