The Athena X-ray Observatory
Athena is ESA's next large X-ray observatory that has been selected for launch in 2028. It has been conceived to answer some of the most pressing questions in Astrophysics for the late 2020s that can uniquely be addressed with X-ray observations. Questions whose answers are poised to transform our understanding of the Hot and Energetic Universe.
Athena
Athena will look deep into the X-ray Universe, where the first stars, galaxies and black holes are forming.


Instrumentation on board Athena. The cryogenic X-ray Integral Field Unit (left) provides very high spectral resolution while the Wide Field Imager (right) offers the 40'x40' wide field view coupled with high-time resolution and high count rate capabilities.