* Astronomy

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and RIKEN have successfully acquired an all-sky X-ray image using the "Monitor of All-sky X-ray Image (MAXI)" installed on the Exposed Facility of the Japanese Experiment Module "Kibo." 


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Credit JAXA


All-sky X-ray image by the GSC of the MAXI of the Milky Way.
The image was compiled using data acquired by the Gas Slit Camera (GSC), one of MAXI's onboard X-ray camera systems, between August 15 and October 29, 2009.
Sources plotted in red in this figure radiate low-energy X-rays, and those in blue emit high-energy X-rays.
The image contains nearly 180 X-ray sources. Taking less than two months to complete, this is the world's quickest acquisition of an all-sky "colour" X-ray image. This kind of all-sky X-ray image in a similar sensitivity and energy band was compiled by composing data obtained by the NASA satellite, HEAO-1, 30 years ago through its two-year survey.


Credit JAXA

In addition, the MAXI reported five X-ray sources that have suddenly increased their brightness since the beginning of its mission. (A0535+26, GRB090831A, GRB090926B, XTE J1752-223 and 4U2206+54)