Each day we feature a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. If you could, the night sky would be a strange and unfamiliar place. X-rays are about 1,000 times more energetic than visible light photons and are produced in violent and high temperature astrophysical environments. Instead of the familiar steady stars, the sky would seem to be filled with exotic binary star systems composed of white dwarfs , neutron stars , and black holes , along with flare stars, X-ray bursters, pulsars , supernova remnants and active galaxies . Sources near the galactic center are seen to dominate in this false color map which shows regions of highest X-ray intensity in yellow.
Specific rights apply.