Why does NASA use a device with 36 pixels to monitor the universe?

NASA's newest astronomical instrument, the X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM), launched into orbit last September, on a mission to probe the cosmos and answer some of the toughest scientific questions. It is a collaboration between NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

The satellite uses an imaging tool called Resolve, which has a sensor of just 36 pixels. This surprises many people because in this day and age, even a normal smartphone can take a photo containing tens of millions of pixels.

Why does NASA use a device with 36 pixels to monitor the universe?
The 36-pixel sensor used by NASA in space exploration projects. Photo: NASA/XRISM/Caroline Kilbourne.

Resolve can measure the temperature of each X-ray that hits it, so it's also called a microcalorimeter, said Brian Williams, a scientist involved in NASA's XRISM project.

Despite the limited number of pixels, each pixel in Resolve is unique, capable of generating a rich spectrum of image data, covering the energy range from 400-12,000 electron volts (eV), allowing scientists to study the elements that make up the energy source in unprecedented detail.

Resolve can detect “soft” X-rays, which have energies about 5,000 times greater than the wavelength of visible light.

Resolve's mission is to explore the hottest regions of the universe, the largest structures, and the most massive objects, such as supermassive black holes.

NASA said the new astronomical device can detect the movement of particles inside a target, essentially providing a three-dimensional view, opening up a new direction of exploration for space science.

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