XMM-Newton uncovers a celestial Rosetta stone

ESA's XMM-Newton orbiting X-ray telescope has uncovered a celestial Rosetta stone: the first close-up of a white dwarf star, circling a companion star, that could explode into a particular kind of supernova in a few million years. These supernovae are used as beacons to measure cosmic distances and ultimately understand the expansion of our Universe.

Link: http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM4F8LW3ZF_index_0.html

Time: 3. Sep. 2009

Feed: ESA Top News

Topics: celestial, rosetta, stone, xmm-newton