NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

A Super-Efficient Particle Accelerator

Supernova remnant RCW 86. Image credit: Optical: ESO/E. Helder; X-ray: NASA/CXC/Univ. of Utrecht/J.Vink et al.

Supernova remnant RCW 86 is all that's left of an exploded star, which may have been observed on Earth in 185 AD by Chinese astronomers. Data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope is helping astronomers understand new details about the role of supernova remnants. The shock wave visible in this area is a super-efficient particle accelerator within the Milky Way, and the energy used in this process matches the number of cosmic rays observed on Earth.

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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