NICER X-ray Timing Instrument (IMAGE) NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Caption A view of the NICER X-ray Timing Instrument without its protective blanketing shows a collection of 56 close-packed sunshades -- the white and black cylinders in the foreground -- that protect the X-ray optics (not visible here), as well as some of the 56 X-ray detector enclosures, on the gold-colored plate, onto which X-rays from the sky are focused. Credit Keith Gendreau Usage Restrictions None License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.