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An enormous swirling vortex of hot gas glows with infrared light, marking the approximate location of the supermassive black hole at the heart of our Milky Way galaxy.

IXPE Media Resources

The Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer, or IXPE, is a new and unique space observatory for X-ray astronomy. IXPE launched Dec. 9 on a Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Media Contacts

Reporters with questions or interview requests related to NASA’s Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer may contact:

Molly Porter
Office of Communications
NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala.
256-424-5158

Elizabeth Landau
NASA Headquarters, Washington
202-358-0845

Learn More and Get Involved

IXPE Checks Out X-rays from Extreme Objects

IXPE Fact Sheet

Composite images of the Cas A supernova remnant that looks like a spherical cloud resembles a hazy ball of turquoise and neon blue lightning, marbled with veins of gold.

IXPE Photo Gallery

IXPE Mission Begins Science Operations

IXPE Videos

IXPE Celebrates 1 Year of Exploring the Cosmos

Look at some of IXPE’s accomplishments in the first year of its mission.

NASA’s Imaging X-Ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) spacecraft launches

Discover More Topics from NASA

the Eagle Nebula, often referred to as the "Pillars of Creation". Here, tall columns of grey gas and dust emerge from the bottom edge of the image, stretching toward our upper right. Backed by dark orange mist, the cloudy grey columns are surrounded by dozens of soft, glowing, pink and purple dots; massive stars emitting enormous amounts of X-rays. The shapes, hints of movement, and colors in this composite rendering create a dream-like image. The misty orange background suggests a dusky sky, and the glowing pink and purple stars resemble fireflies. Churning with turbulent gas and dust, the columns lean to our right with small offshoots pointing in the same direction. These details evoke an image of yearning cloud creatures at dusk, pointing at something just out of frame.

Chandra X-ray Observatory

Left of center, two bright blue circular shapes appear to be joined toward the center of the frame. They are whitest on their outermost edges. Debris, also white and bright blue, emanates outward and extends all around the frame. The background is black.

Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope

Hubble's view of the Horsehead Nebula

Hubble Space Telescope

carina nebula

James Webb Space Telescope