The mission is scheduled for launch in 2028 to study the hot and energetic Universe as part of ESA’s Cosmic Vision 2015 to 2025 plan. Athena is a large X-ray telescope combined with state-of-the-art scientific instruments and many questions will be addressed when the mission kicks off. For instance, how do black holes grow and what role do they play in their surroundings? And, how and why does ordinary matter form within galaxies and galactic clusters? Scientists theorize that black holes are in the center of almost every galaxy and contribute to the formation and evolution of them. Black holes swallow hot material and Athena will observe this process by X-ray emissions just before the material is consumed by the black hole. Athena will also be able to measure distortions and determine the spin of the black hole itself. There are many astronomical phenomena in the universe and Athena will also be able to observe these with the new equipment. Some of these spectacular scenes include gamma-ray bursts, Jupiter’s auroras, comets, magnetic interplay between parent stars and exoplanets and the hot gases formed around clusters. Read more at redorbit/news/space/1113180093/athena-telescope-esa-explore-high-energy-universe-062714/#1jhUKlI15DL7hQcu.99
Posted on: Sat, 28 Jun 2014 08:25:44 +0000
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