Chandra X-ray Center

Chandra Xray Observatory

The Chandra X-ray Center is operated for NASA by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and developed with funding from NASA under contract NAS8-03060.

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Chandra Facts

Chandra Xray Observatory facts

The Chandra X-ray Observatory is the world's most powerful X-ray telescope. It has eight-times greater resolution and is able to detect sources more than 20-times fainter than any previous X-ray telescope.

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Worldbook at NASA

Solar system collage

Solar System: A group of heavenly bodies consisting of a star, planets and other objects orbiting around it.

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Chandra Latest News, Features and Photos

Planetary nebula NGC 7009, part of the first systematic survey of such objects in the solar neighborhood made with the Chandra Xray Observatory.

A Planetary Nebula Gallery

Chandra captures stunning views of four planetary nebulas from its first systematic survey of such objects in the solar neighborhood.

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Artist concept of the gas halo surrounding the Milky Way galaxy

Milky Way is Surrounded by Hot Gas Halo

Chandra finds evidence that the Milky Way Galaxy is embedded in an enormous halo of hot gas that extends for hundreds of thousands of light years.

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Image of Keplers supernova remnant

Was Kepler's Supernova Unusually Powerful?

New Chandra analysis of Kepler's supernova remnant explosion suggests that it might have been more powerful and farther than previously thought.

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A superbubble in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a small satellite galaxy of the Milky Way

A Surprisingly Bright Superbubble

Chandra spies a bright superbubble in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a small satellite galaxy of the Milky Way about 160,000 light years from Earth.

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Flickr: Chandra's 'Greatest Hits'

Overview: 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 X-ray images of exotic environments to help understand the structure and evolution of the universe. The Chandra X-ray Observatory program is managed by NASA's Marshall Center for the Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters, Washington, D.C.

    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. The CXC Web site is the primary resource for information on the Chanda X-ray Observatory mission. › View Site

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Chandra Contact Information

    For media support regarding the Chandra X-ray Observatory, please contact:

    Megan Watzke
    Chandra X-ray Center
    Cambridge, Mass.
    Phone: 617-496-7998
    mwatzke@cfa.harvard.edu

    Janet Anderson
    Marshall Space Flight Center
    Huntsville, Ala.
    Phone: 256-544-0034
    Janet.L.Anderson@nasa.gov