The AXP glitch observation supports the magnetar hypothesis, Kaspi said, but does not provide irrefutable proof. Kaspi and her colleagues' work represents the latest chapter in understanding these strange types of objects first seen in the 1990s by a Japanese satellite named the Advanced Satellite for Cosmology and Astrophysics. She hopes that identifying the nature of AXPs will pave the way in understanding equally rare and bewildering objects, such as the magnetars and soft gamma-ray repeaters, which may be related to AXPs. Rossi 2000 is the first meeting to bring together the diverse pool of observational astronomers and theorists utilizing RXTE, which was launched by NASA in December 1995. Over 150 researchers attended the meeting, held March 22-24.
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