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

NASA scouts the universe with a device with a 36-pixel sensor, a truly unbelievable number in an era when normal smartphones can take photos containing tens of millions of pixels.

While the James Webb Space Telescope is famous for its ability to take infrared images at a distance of 1.5 million km, with 122 MP resolution, NASA's latest astronomical instrument takes a different approach with sensors 36 pixels.

The 36-pixel sensor is equipped in NASA's space exploration project. (Photo: NASA/XRISM/Caroline Kilbourne).

According to TechCrunch , the X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM) is the result of a collaboration between NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). This program's satellite was launched into orbit last September, carrying a mission to explore throughout the universe, finding solutions to some difficult scientific problems.

Notably, the device uses an imaging engine called Resolve , which has a sensor of only 36 pixels.

'Resolve is more than just a camera, the device can measure the temperature of each incoming X-ray. We call Resolve a microcalorimetric spectrometer because each of the 36 pixels measures the microscopic heat of each X-ray, allowing us to see the chemical signature of the elements that make up the energy source. in unprecedented detail' , said Brian Williams, a scientist participating in NASA's XRISM project.

Equipped with a special pixel array, Resolve can detect 'soft' X-rays, which have around 5,000 times more energy than the wavelength of visible light.

Its main goal 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 remarkable, capable of generating a rich spectrum of image data, covering the energy range from 400-12,000 electron volts (eV).

NASA claims the device can sense the movement of particles inside a target, essentially providing a 3-D view. Chi moving toward us emits slightly higher energy than normal, while chi moving away emits lower energy.

XRISM opens a new direction of discovery for space science. For example, allowing scientists to understand the flow of hot gas in galaxy clusters, closely tracking the movements of different elements in the remnants of supernova explosions.