When astronomers combine Chandra's X-ray data with images from other observatories, the results are often breathtaking.
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The Chandra X-Ray Observatory was launched into space in 1999 and has served a total of almost 22 years in orbit, although the telescope was originally estimated to have a lifespan of five years. The telescope is capable of registering X-ray quanta with energies from 0.1 to 10 keV.
Artist’s impression of the Chandra X-ray Observatory. Credit: NASA / CXC / NGST
The need to work outside the atmosphere is due to the fact that X-rays are strongly scattered by molecules of atmospheric gases and it is impossible to obtain highly detailed images of deep space objects in this wavelength range using ground-based observatories.
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In the X-ray wavelength range, one can observe the consequences of various high-energy processes that cause matter to heat up to temperatures ranging from millions to hundreds of millions of Kelvin. Radiation sources can be pulsars, active galactic nuclei, black holes, and clouds of rarefied intergalactic hot gas in clusters and supernova remnants.
With this said, here are 20 jaw-dropping images of celestial objects made with data from the Chandra X-Ray Observatory.
The Cartwheel Galaxy shown here has been observed by several space telescopes including the Chandra observatory. This image is composed of optical data from Hubble and Chandra’s X-ray data (in purple). Credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC; Optical: NASA/STScI
The Coronet Cluster which is one of the closest active regions of star formation. Credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/CfA/J.Forbrich et al.; Infrared: NASA/SSC/CfA/IRAC GTO Team
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