The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) consistently shares awe-inspiring images from space on social media platforms. These high-definition images are created using data collected by advanced cameras and telescopes sent into orbit. NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory plays a crucial role in capturing these celestial wonders.
The Chandra X-ray Observatory telescope is designed to detect X-ray emissions from extremely hot regions of the universe, such as exploded stars, clusters of galaxies, and the matter surrounding black holes. The satellite carrying the Chandra telescope orbits Earth at an altitude of 139,000 km (86,500 mi), allowing it to capture X-rays that are absorbed by Earth’s atmosphere. The collected data is primarily processed by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory in Cambridge, MA, where it is analyzed and distributed to scientists around the world.
Here are some of the most captivating images captured by the Chandra X-ray Observatory:
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The Bat Shadow:
This composite image, a collaboration between the Chandra and Hubble telescopes, showcases a young star casting a shadow resembling the Batman symbol across a cloud formation. The image is a mesmerizing blend of pink and white stars against a backdrop of murky clouds.*
Milky Way Galaxy:
The Chandra X-ray Observatory captured a stunning image of the Milky Way galaxy, revealing bright spots at its center and translucent swirls. The image highlights the hot gas seen by Chandra, providing valuable insights into the dynamics of our galaxy.*
Pillars of Creation:
This iconic region, first imaged by NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, features majestic pillars of gas and dust where new stars are forming. The Chandra X-ray image reveals the young stars within these pillars in red and blue, illuminating the region with X-rays.*
Elliptical Galaxy:
This image showcases the dramatic interaction between an elliptical galaxy and a galaxy cluster. As the galaxy moves through the cluster at an incredible speed of three million miles per hour, Chandra detects hot gas being pulled away from its core.*
WR 124:
This rare Wolf-Rayet star, a massive star in a brief, bright phase of its evolution, is captured in a composite image from several telescopes. The purple spots visible on the image represent X-rays from Chandra, while the blue light comes from infrared observations by Herschel, Spitzer, WISE, and the red, green, and blue lights come from the Webb telescope.These are just a few examples of the incredible images produced by NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, which continues to provide groundbreaking insights into the universe’s mysteries.
