XPOSAT CAPTURES FIRST LIGHT FROM SUPERNOVA REMNANT

India's first X-ray polarimetry mission, XPoSat, has captured first light from "Cassiopeia A" a supernova remnant using its X-ray SPECtroscopy and Timing (XSPECT) payload. Launched on January 1, XPoSat carries two instruments — POLarimeter Instrument in X-rays (POLIX) and XSPECT — to study cosmic X-ray sources. While POLIX studies X-ray polarisation, XSPECT performs long-term spectral and timing studies in the soft X-ray band. During performance checks, XSPECT observed Cassiopeia A on January 5 and detected emission lines from elements like Magnesium, Silicon, Sulphur, Argon, Calcium and Iron, Isro said. Developed by URSC/ISRO, XSPECT's continuous observation capabilities will help understand high-energy astrophysical phenomena.

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