NASA explores space with a device featuring a 36-pixel sensor, a truly astonishing number in an era where a regular smartphone can capture images with tens of millions of pixels.
While the renowned James Webb Space Telescope is known for its capability to take infrared images from 1.5 million kilometers away with a resolution of 122 MP, NASA’s latest astronomical instrument takes a different approach with its 36-pixel sensor.
The 36-pixel sensor used in NASA’s space exploration project. (Image: NASA/XRISM/Caroline Kilbourne).
According to TechCrunch, the X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM) is a collaborative effort between NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The satellite for this program was launched into orbit in September of last year, tasked with exploring the universe and addressing some challenging scientific questions.
Notably, the device employs an imaging tool named Resolve, which features only 36 pixels.
“Resolve is not just a camera; it can measure the temperature of each X-ray that hits it. We refer to Resolve as a micro calorimeter spectrometer because each of the 36 pixels measures the minuscule heat from each X-ray, allowing us to see the chemical signatures of elements in unprecedented detail,” stated Brian Williams, a scientist involved in NASA’s XRISM project.
Equipped with a unique array of pixels, Resolve can detect “soft” X-rays, which have energies over 5,000 times greater than visible light wavelengths.
Its primary objective is to explore the hottest regions of the universe, the largest structures, and the heaviest celestial bodies, such as supermassive black holes.
Despite the limited number of pixels, each pixel in Resolve is quite special, capable of generating a rich spectrum of image data, covering an energy range from 400 to 12,000 electron volts (eV).
NASA claims that this device can detect the motion of particles within the target, fundamentally providing a 3D perspective. Gas moving towards us emits slightly higher energy, while gas moving away emits lower energy.
XRISM opens a new avenue for exploration in the field of space science. For instance, it allows scientists to understand the flow of hot gas in galaxy clusters and meticulously track the movement of various elements in the remnants of a supernova explosion.
