Space Science News home |
|
Aug. 26, 1999: Extraordinary first images from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory trace the aftermath of a gigantic stellar explosion in such stunning detail that scientists can see evidence of what may be a neutron star or black hole near the center. Another image (right) shows a powerful X-ray jet blasting 200,000 light years into intergalactic space from a distant quasar. Right: PKS 0637-72 is so distant that we see it as it was 6 billion years ago. It is a luminous quasar that radiates with the power of 10 trillion suns from a region smaller than our solar system. The source of this prodigious energy is believed to be a supermassive black hole. Credit: NASA and Chandra Science Center Released today, both images confirm that NASA's newest
Great Observatory is in excellent health and its instruments and
optics are performing up to expectations. Chandra, the world's
largest and most sensitive X-ray telescope, is still in its
orbital check-out and calibration phase.
"We were astounded by these images," said Harvey Tananbaum, Director of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory's Chandra X- ray Center, Cambridge, MA. "We see the collision of the debris from the exploded star with the matter around it, we see shock waves rushing into interstellar space at millions of miles per hour, and, as a real bonus, we see for the first time a tantalizing bright point near the center of the remnant that could possibly be a collapsed star associated with the outburst." After the telescope's sunshade door was opened last week, one of the first images taken was of the 320-year-old supernova remnant Cassiopeia A, which astronomers believe was produced by the explosion of a massive star. Material blasted into space from the explosion crashed into surrounding material at 10 million miles per hour. This collision caused violent shock waves, like massive sonic booms, creating a vast 50-million degree bubble of X-ray emitting gas. Left: Cas A as seen by the Chandra X-ray Observatory. The image links to a 533x533-pixel, 54K JPG. Or, click here for a 2133x2133-pixel, 1.4MB JPG. Credit: NASA and Chandra Science Center Heavy elements in the hot gas produce X-rays of specific energies. Chandra's ability to precisely measure these X-rays tells how much of each element is present. With this information, astronomers can investigate how the elements necessary for life are created and spread throughout the galaxy by exploding stars. "Chandra will help to confirm one of the most fascinating theories of modern science -- that we came from the stars," said Professor Robert Kirshner of Harvard University. "Its ability to make X-ray images of comparable quality to optical images will have an impact on virtually every area of astronomy." Chandra also imaged a distant and very luminous quasar -- a single star-like object -- sporting a powerful X-ray jet blasting into space. The quasar radiates with the power of 10 trillion suns, energy which scientists believe comes from a supermassive black hole at its center. Chandra's image, combined with radio telescope observations, should provide insight into the process by which supermassive black holes can produce such cosmic jets. The Chandra X-ray observatory was named in honor of the late Nobel laureate Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar. NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center manages the Chandra program. TRW, Inc., Redondo Beach, CA, is the prime contractor for the spacecraft. The Smithsonian's Chandra X-ray Center controls science and flight operations from Cambridge, MA. The first Chandra images will be posted to the Internet at: http://chandra.nasa.gov and http://chandra.havard.edu |
Web Links |
Xrayastronomy.com,
science
news from the Chandra X-Ray Observatory Chandra X-ray Observatory Center home page, with links to education, news, and technical pages. Chandra news from Marshall Space Flight Center Chandra Project Science is managed at NASA/Marshall, has links to individual instruments and the prime contractor. X-ray astrophysics branch at NASA/Marshall conducts a broad range of research and technology work, as well as supporting the Chandra X-ray Observatory. NASA/Marshall scientists will use Chandra to ask: What happens to pulsars in the fast lane? Why did the supernova change colors? How hot is the Crab? How old is the the Universe? More Space Science Headlines - NASA research on the web NASA's Office of Space Science press releases and other news related to NASA and astrophysics |
Join our growing list of subscribers - sign up for our express news delivery and you will receive a mail message every time we post a new story!!! More Headlines
|