New scientific riches from Integral Astronomers from around the
world have been discussing the findings from ESA's orbiting
gamma-ray observatory, Integral. November 8, 2007 Provided by
ESA, Noordwijk, Netherlands November 8, 2007 Integral, pictured
above, is gathering some of the most energetic radiation that
comes from space. The spacecraft was launched in October 2002.
Photo by ESA When Integral was launched in 2002 it was intended
to take detailed gamma-ray images and spectra of the universe
and to look for new types of sources in this relatively
unexplored field. Integral has accomplished all these
objectives. "Integral discovers about 100 new gamma-ray sources
a year," said conference organizer, Angela Bazzano, Istituto di
Astrofisica Spaziale e Fisica Cosmica, Roma. These objects are
spread throughout the Universe. Its instruments have been fine-
tuned to the so-called soft gamma-ray band, where the majority
of celestial gamma rays are emitted. It has used these
instruments to identify some of the most