OSIRIS-REx Observes a Black Hole

The Osiris Rex mission made an unexpected discovery of a black hole 30,000 light years away using the Rexus instrument, originally designed to study asteroid Bennu. Rexus detects X-rays through a mask pattern, allowing scientists to pinpoint their origin. The black hole, a newly flaring X-ray binary, was also identified by Japan's Maxi telescope and NASA's NICER on the ISS. Earth's atmosphere blocks X-rays, so such observations are only possible from space, marking a first for interplanetary space detection.

What unexpected observation did the Osiris Rex Mission make?

Describe the instrument used to detect the black hole and its purpose.

What was the significance of the glowing object detected by Osiris Rex?

Explain how the black hole emits X rays according to the text.

Why can X rays from the newly discovered black hole only be observed from space?