Chandra X-Ray Telescope

Chandra X-ray Telescope: 

Chandra X-ray Telescope Seeing Through the Dust

Objectives: 

Objectives The student should be familiar with the historical facts, capabilities, and mission of the Chandra X-ray Telescope. The student should be able to understand the way data is interpreted and the images are formed.

Chandra History: 

Chandra History Since its launch on July 23, 1999, the Chandra X-ray Observatory has been NASA's flagship mission for X-ray astronomy, taking its place in the fleet of "Great Observatories. STS-93, the shuttle mission that placed Chandra in orbit, was the first mission of a space shuttle commanded by a woman.

Chandra’s Mission: 

Chandra’s Mission NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, which was launched and deployed by Space Shuttle Columbia on July 23, 1999, is the most sophisticated X-ray observatory built to date. Chandra is designed to observe X-rays from high-energy regions of the universe, such as the remnants of exploded stars

What Are X-Rays?: 

What Are X-Rays? What are x-rays? X-rays are a highly energetic form of light, not visible to human eyes. Light can take on many forms -- including radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible, ultraviolet, X-ray and gamma radiation. Very low temperatures (hundreds of degrees below zero Celsius) produce mostly low energy radio and microwave photons, whereas cool bodies like ours (about 30 degrees Celsius) produce largely infrared radiation. Objects at very high temperatures (millions of degrees Celsius) emit most of their energy as x-rays.

Why Do We Need X-ray Telescopes?: 

Why Do We Need X-ray Telescopes? Much of the matter in the universe cannot be seen by any other telescope. X-ray telescopes are the only way we can observe extremely hot matter with temperatures of millions of degrees Celsius. It takes gigantic explosions, or intense magnetic or gravitational fields to energize particles to these high temperatures. Where do such conditions exist? In an astonishing variety of places, ranging from the vast spaces between galaxies to the bizarre, collapsed worlds of neutron stars and black holes

Why Don’t We have X-ray Telescopes on Earth?: 

Why Don’t We have X-ray Telescopes on Earth? X-ray observatories must be placed high above the Earth's surface because the Earth's atmosphere absorbs x-rays. This means that the ultra-precise mirrors and detectors -- together with the sophisticated electronics that convey the information back to Earth -- must be able to withstand the rigors of a rocket launch and operate in the hostile environment of space.

What Parts Make Up Chandra: 

What Parts Make Up Chandra The Mirrors The Chandra telescope system consists of four pairs of mirrors and their support structure. The mirrors have to be exquisitely shaped and aligned nearly parallel to incoming x-rays. Thus they look more like nested glass barrels than the familiar dish shape of optical telescopes. The Science Instruments The function of the science instruments is to record as accurately as possible the number, position and energy of the incoming x-rays. This information can be used to make an X-ray image and study other properties of the source, such as its temperature. The Spacecraft The spacecraft system provides the support structure and environment necessary for the telescope and the science instruments to work as an observatory. Parts of the system include solar panels to supply the instruments with power, a thermal system to control the temperature of the telescope, and a communications system to relay data to astronomers on Earth

How do X-ray telescopes differ from optical telescopes?: 

How do X-ray telescopes differ from optical telescopes? X-rays do not reflect off mirrors the same way that visible light does. Because of their high-energy, X-ray photons penetrate into the mirror in much the same way that bullets slam into a wall. Likewise, just as bullets ricochet when they hit a wall at a grazing angle, so too will X-rays ricochet off mirrors (see diagram below). These properties mean that X-ray telescopes must be very different from optical telescopes. The mirrors have to be precisely shaped and aligned nearly parallel to incoming X-rays. Thus they look more like barrels than the familiar dish shape of optical telescopes