Chandra X-Ray Telescope

摘要

FOR MORE THAN EIGHT HOURS LAST FALL, THE CHANDRA X-RAY OBSERVATORY STARED AT A NONDESCRIPT GALAXY 240 MILLION LIGHT-YEARS AWAY. IN THAT TIME, ONE OF THE DETECTORS INTERCEPTED EXACTLY FOUR X-RAY PHOTONS. IT SOUNDS LIKE A MEAGER HARVEST, BUT THOSE FOUR PACKETS OF ENERGY HELPED ASTRONOMERS REALIZE THAT THE GALAXY CONTAINED A TYPE OF EXPLODING STAR THAT HAD NEVER BEEN OBSERVED BEFORE.