The Unexpected
The Unexpected
Solar
Normal Stars
Carina Nebula
SNR
Supermassive
Milky Way
Galaxies
Clusters

Expected & Detected

X-ray emission was detected from the atmospheres of planets and comets. The

X-rays are produced when solar X-rays and high-speed particles flowing away

from the Sun hit these atmospheres. The observed X-radiation provides

information on the outer atmospheres of these objects that is difficult to

obtain with other telescopes.
Unexpected

The X-radiation from Jupiter's aurora, the equivalent of Earth's Northern Lights,

was discovered to be located very near Jupiter's poles, suggesting that the

auroral X-rays are produced by particles streaming along Jupiter’s magnetic field

all the way from Jupiter's moon Io.
Unexpected

The strongest X-ray emission from Saturn came from its equatorial regions and

varied with solar activity, suggesting that Saturn acts like a surprisingly efficient

X-ray mirror that reflects X-rays from the Sun.



The discovery of X-rays from Saturn’s rings, from a source that is still unknown.

It could be due to beams of energetic electrons produced in lightning storms

on Saturn.

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