NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

A Galaxy Cluster Makes Its Mark

Composite Chandra and Hubble image of Abell 1689, a massive galaxy cluster. Image Credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/MIT/E.-H Peng. Optical: NASA/STScI

Abell 1689 is a massive cluster of galaxies located about 2.3 billion light years away. Hundred-million-degree gas detected by NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory has helped provide new evidence for an ongoing merger of two smaller clusters to form this system. Unlike other merging galaxy systems, the complicated temperature pattern across Abell 1689 suggests multiple structures with different temperatures.

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Exploring the Invisible Universe: Chandra X-ray Observatory

The Chandra X-ray Observatory is part of NASA's fleet of "Great Observatories" along with the Hubble Space Telescope, the Spitizer Space Telescope and the now deorbited Compton Gamma Ray Observatory. Chandra allows scientists from around the world to obtain unprecedented X-ray images of exotic environments to help understand the structure and evolution of the universe. Already surpassing its five-year life, NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory is rewriting textbooks and helping advance technology.

Chandra X-ray Center

The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) in Cambridge, Mass., is responsible for the conduct of the day-to-day flight operations and science activities from the Operations Control Center and Chandra X-ray Center (CXC) facilities. SAO also coordinates science planning for the observing program and provides user support as science products are made available to the scientific community. The CXC Web site is the primary resource for information on the Chanda X-ray Observatory mission, providing comprehensive materials such as news releases, photos, status reports, mission background materials, etc.
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NASA Marshall Space Flight Center

The Chandra X-ray Observatory program is managed by NASA's Marshall Center for the Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters, Washington, D.C. The NASA Chandra News Web site contains selected news releases and photos highlighting Chandra discoveries and activites. > View site