Follow this link to skip to the main content

Hakucho

An artist's conception of the Hakucho satellite in oribt.

An artist's conception of the Hakucho satellite in oribt. (Credit: ISAS/JAXA)

Lifetime: February 1979 - April 1985

Country (primary): Japan

Primary Science

Hakucho was Japan's first X-ray astronomy satellite. It was designed to study and monitor transient X-ray sources with a particular emphasis on X-ray bursts.

Science Highlights

  • Discovery of soft X-ray transients like Centaurus X-4
  • Discovery of many burst sources
  • Long-term monitoring of X-ray pulsars (like Vela X-1)

Links to more information




 

A service of the High Energy Astrophysics Science Archive Research Center (HEASARC), Dr. Andy Ptak (Director), within the Astrophysics Science Division (ASD) at NASA/GSFC

NASA Logo, National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Goddard