Extraordinary X-ray Observatory Excites Astronomers

摘要

Space astronomy zooms aloft in physics Hot Papers this period, as technical descriptions of a unique X-ray observatory grab places #2 and #3. The Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe again takes pole position: #1 charts the cosmological implications and is highly cited because it is the standard source document for values of the fundamental parameters that describe our universe. Papers #2 and #3 describe the Suzaku observatory and its imaging spectrometer. Suzaku mission research scientists have already produced 100 research papers in 2007-8, all of which cite #2 and #3. Next on the grid is high flier #4 on the third Japanese solar observatory, Hinode (sunrise), carrying three major telescopes, all of which have made successful first light observations.