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IXPE ○̉｜Definition｜1st｜20251119205401-00-⌔
IXPE
Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer, commonly known as IXPE or SMEX-14, is a space observatory with three identical telescopes designed to measure the polarization of cosmic X-rays of black holes, neutron stars, and pulsars.1 The observatory, which was launched on 9 December 2021, is an international collaboration between NASA and the Italian Space Agency (ASI). It is part of NASA’s Explorers program, which designs low-cost spacecraft to study heliophysics and astrophysics.
The mission will study exotic astronomical objects and permit mapping of the magnetic fields of black holes, neutron stars, pulsars, supernova remnants, magnetars, quasars, and active galactic nuclei. The high-energy X-ray radiation from these objects’ surrounding environment can be polarized – oscillating in a particular direction. Studying the polarization of X-rays reveals the physics of these objects and can provide insights into the high-temperature environments where they are created.2
Printed 2026-06-28.
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Link to original Footnotes
“NASA Selects Mission to Study Black Holes, Cosmic X-ray Mysteries”. NASA. 3 January 2017. Archived from the original on 8 December 2021. Retrieved 6 December 2021. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. ↩
“NASA selects X-ray astronomy mission”. SpaceNews. 4 January 2017. Archived from the original on 30 April 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2021. ↩
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