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Nicer Telescope

All articles tagged with #nicer telescope

science1 year ago

Record-Breaking Neutron Star Spins 716 Times Per Second

Astronomers have discovered a neutron star, part of the x-ray binary system 4U 1820-30, spinning at an extraordinary 716 times per second, making it one of the fastest-spinning objects ever observed. Located 26,000 light-years away in the Sagittarius constellation, this neutron star pulls material from its white dwarf companion, leading to powerful thermonuclear bursts. The discovery, made using NASA's NICER telescope, provides insights into the life cycles of binary star systems and the formation of elements in the universe.

science-and-technology1 year ago

"Astronauts Repair NASA's NICER Telescope in Space"

NASA's NICER telescope, which has been affected by a "light leak" causing interference with X-ray measurements during the space station's daytime, is set to be repaired by astronauts during a spacewalk. The repair involves installing pie piece-shaped wedges to block out sunlight and mitigate the impact on observations. NICER, located near the space station's solar panels, collects data on cosmic phenomena and has contributed to numerous scientific papers. The telescope's repair is scheduled to launch later this year and is part of NASA's efforts to advance X-ray astronomy and space exploration.