New NASA Telescope Will Provide X-Ray Views of the Universe

The IXPE spacecraft will use X-ray polarimetry to better measure black holes, supernovas and other astronomical phenomena.

A brand-new space telescope will soon reveal a hidden vision of the cosmos, potentially transforming our understanding of black holes, supernovas and even the nature of the universe itself.

No, not that one.

Much attention is being devoted this month to the James Webb Space Telescope, from NASA and the European Space Agency, which is set to launch on Dec. 22. But a more exclusive cadre of astronomers watched excitedly on Thursday during the trip to space of a smaller, but also transformative, observatory.