Three unusually long-lasting stellar explosions discovered by NASA’s Swift satellite represent a previously unrecognized class of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs).
An exploding star observed in 1604 by the German astronomer Johannes Kepler held a greater fraction of heavy elements than the sun, according to an analysis of X-ray observations from Suzaku.
NASA's Astrophysics Explorer Program has selected two missions for launch in 2017: a planet-hunting satellite and an International Space Station instrument to observe X-rays from stars.
NICER will gather scientific data revealing the physics of the densest matter allowed in nature, and could revolutionize our ability to travel to the far reaches of the solar system and beyond.
Astronomers from the University of Maryland at College Park (UMCP) and Lowell Observatory have used NASA's Swift satellite to check out comet C/2012 S1 (ISON).
NICER/SEXTANT and Super-TIGER are featured in Volume 9, Issue 3 (Spring 2013) of the Cutting Edge
Congratulations to the NICER and TESS teams!
04.05.2013
HQ has just announced the selections of the next two Explorer missions.
Congratulations go to Dr Keith Gendreau (X-ray Astrophysics Lab) and his
team for the selected NICER mission! This is an X-ray telescope dedicated to
observe timing of neutron stars. NICER will be placed on the ISS to observe
pulsars to both determine the structure of neutron stars and to demonstrate
their use as deep space navigation beacons. The TESS mission is led by
George Ricker at MIT and managed by GSFC. TESS will make a survey of nearby
stars to search for Exo-planets and will provide targets for JWST to observe
and characterize their atmospheres, potentially finding nearby habitable
planets in nearby solar systems.
2012 Robert H. Goddard Awards for ASD
02.06.2013
Robert H. Goddard Award of Merit (Goddard's highest award): Bruce Woodgate (667)
Citation: For exceptional career achievements in science and service to Goddard and NASA
Science:
Timothy Kallman (662) - Citation: For his outstanding performance as GEMS Project Scientist
Eliahu Dwek (665) - Citation: For developing new, detailed, and observationally confirmed models of the formation, evolution, and destruction of cosmic dust grains, from supernovae to shock waves and star-forming regions.
Jane Rigby (665) - Citation: For using gravitational lensing to map a distant galaxy in unprecedented detail.
HEASARC Team (660.1) - [Team list: Alan Smale, Tom McGlynn, Bill Pence, Frank Marshall, Lorella Angelini, Dave Chuss, Phil Newman, Keith Arnaud, Mike Corcoran, Steve Drake, Steve Sturner, Laura McDonald, Ed Sabol, Craig Gordon, Bryan Irby, Pan Chai, Urmila Prasad, Michael Greason] Citation: For enabling new science results from NASA missions by providing high quality software for data search, retrieval and analysis through the HEASARC data archive research center Safety: Curtis Odell (660) - Citation: For thorough and detailed investigation into the root cause of the laboratory fire in Building 34, Room C259, and his efforts to define and implement a recovery plan. Mentoring: Joan Centrella (660) - Citation: For her demonstrated commitment to mentoring women scientists at all stages of their careers, which has resulted in a positive and supportive professional environment for all. Outreach: Frank Reddy (660) - Citation: For outstanding dedication to public outreach through the media, including exceptional scientific writing and coordination with NASA video producers, resulting in high-impact Astrophysics press releases and features.
The X-ray Astrophysics Laboratory conducts investigations of a broad range of astronomical systems through detection and analysis of their X-ray emission and other radiation they emit. Objects studied range from nearby solar system objects to cosmological structures. Researchers at the Laboratory investigate the physics of extreme environments?such as those near the event horizons of black holes?and the evolution of stars, galaxies, and large-scale structures.
The Laboratory is the preeminent developer of state-of-the-art X-ray astronomical detectors and optical systems for performing precise spectroscopy, polarimetry, timing, and imaging. These instruments have been employed in numerous suborbital applications (sounding rockets and balloons) and orbiting observatories.
