Chandra X-ray Observatory

A graphic of Chandra is shown in light and dark blue with a long, cylindrical main body. At the front of this cylinder is a darker circle. Jutting off of the front of the main body are two "wings" of solar arrays.
December 20, 2022
CreditNASA
Historical DateDecember 20, 2022
Language
  • english

An illustration of NASA's Chandra spacecraft. The colors depicted in this illustration are for artistic purposes only.

Chandra is one of NASA's Great Observatories and the most powerful X-ray telescope, with eight times the resolution of any previous X-ray telescope and able to detect sources more than 20 times fainter. Chandra detects cosmic X-rays produced where matter is superheated by extreme gravity, magnetic fields, or even explosions.

Launched: July 23, 1999