NASA Chandra finds 84 hyper-soft X-ray sources in six galaxies

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.
NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory has identified 84 hyper-soft X-ray sources across six galaxies, including Andromeda and the Pinwheel Galaxy. The objects emit unusually low-energy X-rays and intense ultraviolet radiation, a combination never observed before. Researchers have not yet determined the nature of the sources.
Key Facts
- The Chandra X-ray Observatory detected 84 hyper-soft X-ray sources in six galaxies, including Andromeda and the Pinwheel Galaxy.
- The objects emit unusually low-energy X-rays and intense ultraviolet radiation, a combination never observed before.
- Study lead Mustafa Muhibullah of the University of Alabama said researchers have never encountered a group of objects behaving this way.
- The nature of the newly discovered objects remains undetermined.
Discovery Details
Researchers used NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory to identify 84 hyper-soft X-ray sources across six galaxies. The galaxies include Andromeda and the Pinwheel Galaxy. The sources emit X-rays of unusually low energy alongside intense ultraviolet radiation. Study lead Mustafa Muhibullah of the University of Alabama stated that no previously known group of objects behaves in this manner.
Scientific Significance
The combination of low-energy X-rays and strong ultraviolet emission has not been observed before. Researchers have not yet determined the nature of the 84 sources. The findings were reported by Kazinform, citing NASA.