Athena X-ray observatory
@the-athena-x-ray-observatory.eu
190 followers 290 following 67 posts
Athena Community Office official account. The largest X-ray observatory ever built, Athena will investigate some of the hottest and most energetic phenomena in the Universe with spatially-resolved X-ray spectroscopy & deep wide-field X-ray spectra imaging
Posts Media Videos Starter Packs
the-athena-x-ray-observatory.eu
#NewAthenaPeople is Ciro Pinto
He is a senior researcher at INAF in Palermo and he is a member of the NewAthena Science Study team.
Ciro’s research primarily focuses on the connection between the growth of black holes and the local star formation.

www.the-athena-x-ray-observatory.eu/en/community...
the-athena-x-ray-observatory.eu
NewAthena e-Newsletter #14 (02 Oct 2025)
the-athena-x-ray-observatory.eu
🚀 𝗕𝗶𝗴 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝗔𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗮 𝗫-𝗜𝗙𝗨 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁!
The demonstration model DM1.1 of the X-IFU focal plane assembly (FPA) has been successfully assembled at @sronspace.bsky.social, Netherlands, with contributions from many international partners.

👏 Congrats to X-IFU team!
the-athena-x-ray-observatory.eu
At #ICSO2024 in Antibes, Michela Todaro et al. presented results on the wide-band transmission response of filters for the X-IFU detector aboard the NewAthena Observatory.
More info 👇:
x-ifu.irap.omp.eu/en/consortiu...
the-athena-x-ray-observatory.eu
The University of Vienna invites application for a full professorship in Space-Based Astrophysics at the Department of Astrophysics. Application deadline is 17 Sep 2025.

More info 👇 :

berufungsservice.univie.ac.at/fileadmin/us....
the-athena-x-ray-observatory.eu
🔭 The 17th #XrayUniverse conference will take place in Elche, Spain 🇪🇸 from 8–11 June 2026!

Covering high-energy astrophysics—from solar system to cosmology—and showcasing results from #XMMNewton & other missions.

🔗 xrayuniverse.esa.int

#Astrophysics #ESA
the-athena-x-ray-observatory.eu
XMM-Newton are pleased to invite you to respond to the 25" “Announcement of Opportunity" to submit proposals for observations to be performed with the XMM-Newton observatory. Proposals must be carried out between May 2026 and April 2027.
More info 👇:
www.cosmos.esa.int/web/xmm-newt...
AO-25 Information - XMM-Newton - Cosmos
3 future 0
www.cosmos.esa.int
the-athena-x-ray-observatory.eu
📢NewAthena Intermediate Review declared successful!
Marine Martin-Lagarde, Athena study manager, presented the main conclusions of the review in the NewAthena/X-IFU Consortium meeting, last week.
Mission Adoption Review shall now go ahead as planned in Jun 2026 for Adoption in 2027. 🚀
the-athena-x-ray-observatory.eu
#International Pride Day To all LGBTQIA+ NewAthena community scientists and allies: your contributions matter, your voices belong, and your presence makes our community better.
the-athena-x-ray-observatory.eu
📣 Today webinar 📣

Alessio Mario talk about neutron stars, can't pass it up!

Details of connection 👇 :

www.the-athena-x-ray-observatory.eu/en/node/58
the-athena-x-ray-observatory.eu
📣 We already have the winner of the Black Hole Week. 📣
And the winner is .......... Mariasole Melara 👏
Congratulations ‼️
We will be contacting you to send you your prize.
the-athena-x-ray-observatory.eu
✅ Correct Answer: B) NewAthena

It will study black holes, focusing on:

How black holes produce high-energy radiation and affect their surroundings.

The connection between black holes and the galaxies they’re in.

Discovering new AGN types to understand supermassive black hole growth.
the-athena-x-ray-observatory.eu
5️⃣ * Day 5 *Question:
Which of the following space missions will help us understand black holes better?

A) ESA's Plato
B) ESA's NewAthena
C) NASA's Lucy
D) NASA's NEO surveyor

Reply with your answer below and share why you think it's correct!We’ll post the solution and a cool science fact tomorrow
the-athena-x-ray-observatory.eu
5️⃣ * Day 5 *Question:
Which of the following space missions will help us understand black holes better?

A) ESA's Plato
B) ESA's NewAthena
C) NASA's Lucy
D) NASA's NEO surveyor

Reply with your answer below and share why you think it's correct!We’ll post the solution and a cool science fact tomorrow
the-athena-x-ray-observatory.eu
✅ Exactly! It is False! Black holes don't "suck" things in; their gravitational influence is significant only when you're near them.
the-athena-x-ray-observatory.eu
4️⃣ ** Day 4 **

True or False:

Black holes suck everything in like a cosmic vacuum cleaner

💬 Reply with "True" or "False" and explain your reasoning!
🧾 Tomorrow we’ll post the solution + a cool science fact.

#BlackHoleWeek #NewAthenaScience #BHchallenge
the-athena-x-ray-observatory.eu
4️⃣ ** Day 4 **

True or False:

Black holes suck everything in like a cosmic vacuum cleaner

💬 Reply with "True" or "False" and explain your reasoning!
🧾 Tomorrow we’ll post the solution + a cool science fact.

#BlackHoleWeek #NewAthenaScience #BHchallenge
the-athena-x-ray-observatory.eu
✅ Answer

Black holes can be:

🟡 City-sized: stellar black holes
🟡 Planet-sized: hypothetical small or early-universe ones
🟡 Solar system-sized: supermassive black holes

❌ Not galaxy-sized — galaxies contain black holes, not the other way around.
the-athena-x-ray-observatory.eu
3️⃣ ** Day 3 ** Today question

What size can black holes have?

A) The size of a city
B) The size of our solar system
C) The size of a galaxy
D) The size of a planet

💬 Reply with your answer below (more than one option can be correct!).
🧾 Tomorrow we’ll post the solution + a cool science
the-athena-x-ray-observatory.eu
3️⃣ ** Day 3 ** Today question

What size can black holes have?

A) The size of a city
B) The size of our solar system
C) The size of a galaxy
D) The size of a planet

💬 Reply with your answer below (more than one option can be correct!).
🧾 Tomorrow we’ll post the solution + a cool science
the-athena-x-ray-observatory.eu
✅ Correct Answer: C) A massive star collapsing under its own gravity.

When a massive star runs out of fuel, its core collapses inward. If it's heavy enough, it forms a black hole. Gravity crushes it past the point of no return! 🪐➡️🕳️
the-athena-x-ray-observatory.eu
2️⃣Day 2Today Question

What causes a stellar black hole to form?
A) Two stars colliding
B) A planet collapsing
C) A massive star collapsing under its own gravity
D) A neutron star absorbing dark matter

💬 Reply with your answer (more than one option can be correct!).Tomorrow we’ll post the solution
Reposted by Athena X-ray observatory
the-athena-x-ray-observatory.eu
2️⃣Day 2Today Question

What causes a stellar black hole to form?
A) Two stars colliding
B) A planet collapsing
C) A massive star collapsing under its own gravity
D) A neutron star absorbing dark matter

💬 Reply with your answer (more than one option can be correct!).Tomorrow we’ll post the solution
the-athena-x-ray-observatory.eu
2️⃣Day 2Today Question

What causes a stellar black hole to form?
A) Two stars colliding
B) A planet collapsing
C) A massive star collapsing under its own gravity
D) A neutron star absorbing dark matter

💬 Reply with your answer (more than one option can be correct!).Tomorrow we’ll post the solution
the-athena-x-ray-observatory.eu
✅Correct Answer B

The event horizon is the boundary beyond which nothing, not even light, can escape the gravitational pull of a black hole.

🧠 Did you know? The term "event horizon" was popularized in the 1950s, but the concept dates back to the 18th century (by John Michell).
the-athena-x-ray-observatory.eu
1️⃣Day1 –Today’s Question:

What is the event horizon of a black hole?
A) The point where time stops for all the observers
B) The edge beyond which nothing can escape
C) The center of the black hole
D) A ring of light around the black hole

💬 Reply with your answer.Tomorrow we’ll post the solution
the-athena-x-ray-observatory.eu
1️⃣Day1 –Today’s Question:

What is the event horizon of a black hole?
A) The point where time stops for all the observers
B) The edge beyond which nothing can escape
C) The center of the black hole
D) A ring of light around the black hole

💬 Reply with your answer.Tomorrow we’ll post the solution
the-athena-x-ray-observatory.eu
🎁 Bonus:

Those with the most correct answers will be entered into a raffle to win some exclusive NewAthena merch!

💡 Remember, it’s all about learning (and maybe having a laugh along the way).
Next week we start, stay tuned to our social media!