Chandra X-ray Observatory A NASA space telescope launched in 1999 that observes the universe in X-rays, radiation absorbed by Earth's atmosphere and therefore invisible to ground-based instruments. Named for astrophysicist Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, it studies hot, energetic regions such as supernova remnants, galaxy clusters and the surroundings of black holes.
Facts
Observatory TypeSpace telescope (X-ray) 2 LocationHigh elliptical Earth orbit 2 MeasuresX-rays from hot, energetic regions of the universe, radiation Earth's atmosphere absorbs and ground telescopes cannot see 1 Operating PrincipleGrazing-incidence X-ray optics, mirrors angled shallowly to reflect X-ray photons that would pass through or be absorbed by a normal mirror surface 1 Classification
Observing Band Connections
Operated By
Source Encyclopedia Britannica: Space Exploration
Sources
1. Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Wikimedia FoundationChandra X-ray Observatory, Technical description sectionQuote, Chandra X-ray Observatory, Technical description section
X-ray photons would be absorbed by normal mirror surfaces, so mirrors with a low grazing angle are necessary to reflect them.
2. Encyclopedia Britannica: Space Exploration
Chandra X-ray Observatory (Wikipedia)
Chandra X-ray Observatory, introductory section
Chandra is sensitive to X-ray sources 100 times fainter than any previous X-ray telescope
Chandra X-ray Observatory, Wikipedia - lead section, observing band (xray)
The Chandra X-ray Observatory (CXO), previously known as the Advanced X-ray Astrophysics Facility (AXAF), is a Flagship-class space telescope launched aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia during STS-93 by NASA on July 23, 1999.
In Group: X-ray and Gamma-Ray Space Observatories, Lead sentence
The Chandra X-ray Observatory (CXO), previously known as the Advanced X-ray Astrophysics Facility (AXAF), is a Flagship-class space telescope launched aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia during STS-93 by NASA on July 23, 1999.
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