Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
BeppoSAX was an Italian-Dutch satellite for X-ray astronomy, operational from 1996 to 2002. It significantly contributed to the study of gamma-ray bursts by providing precise locations for these events.
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BeppoSAX was instrumental in identifying the afterglow of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) in other wavelengths such as X-rays and optical.
It was named after Giuseppe 'Beppo' Occhialini, a pioneer in cosmic ray research.
The satellite helped confirm that GRBs are extragalactic phenomena, meaning they originate outside our Milky Way galaxy.
BeppoSAX's Wide Field Cameras (WFCs) were crucial for detecting and localizing GRBs with high precision.
The satellite ceased operations in April 2002 when it re-entered Earth's atmosphere.
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Related terms
Gamma-Ray Burst (GRB): A highly energetic explosion observed in distant galaxies, thought to be associated with the collapse of massive stars or merging neutron stars.
Afterglow: The emission of electromagnetic radiation following a gamma-ray burst, observable in X-rays, optical light, and radio waves.
X-Ray Astronomy: The study of astronomical objects at X-ray wavelengths, often involving satellites like BeppoSAX due to Earth's atmosphere blocking X-rays.