Published 16:17 IST, September 4th 2020
NASA's Chandra reveals cosmic delights using 'multiwavelength' approach; see pictures
US space agency NASA has released spectacular images of cosmic objects far far away from Earth but captured using advanced technologies by Chandra Observatory
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US ncy NASA has released spectacular ims of cosmic objects far far away from Earth but captured using advanced techlogies by Chandra X-ray Observatory as well as or telescopes.
Telescopes around globe and a fleet of observatories in lend humans an 'eye' that can detect all different types of light. From radio waves to gamma rays, this "multiwavelength" approach to astromy is crucial to getting a complete understanding of objects in .
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NASA's compilation gives examples of ims from different missions and telescopes being combined to better understand science of universe. Each of se ims contains data from Chandra and or telescopes of various types of objects such as galaxies, superva remnants, stars, planetary nebulas; but toger y demonstrate possibilities when data from across electromagnetic spectrum are assembled.
Each composite im contains X-ray data from Chandra as well as or telescopes. objects represent a range of different astrophysical objects and include galaxy Messier 82, galaxy cluster Abell 2744, superva remnant 1987A, binary star system Eta Carinae, Cartwheel galaxy, and planetary nebula Helix Nebula.
M82
Messier 82, or M82, is a galaxy that is oriented edge-on to Earth. This gives astromers and ir telescopes an interesting view of what happens as this galaxy undergoes bursts of star formation. X-rays from Chandra (appearing as blue and pink) show gas in outflows about 20,000 light-years long that has been heated to temperatures above ten million degrees by repeated superva explosions. Optical light data from NASA's Hubble Telescope (red and orange) shows galaxy.
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Abell 2744
Galaxy clusters are largest objects in universe held toger by gravity. y contain ermous amounts of superheated gas, with temperatures of tens of millions of degrees, which glows brightly in X-rays, and can be observed across millions of light-years between galaxies. This im of Abell 2744 galaxy cluster combines X-rays from Chandra (diffuse blue emission) with optical light data from Hubble (red, green, and blue).
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Superva 1987A (SN 1987A)
On February 24, 1987, observers in sourn hemisphere saw a new object in a nearby galaxy called Large Mllanic Cloud. This was one of brightest superva explosions in centuries and soon became kwn as Superva 1987A (SN 87A). Chandra data (blue) show location of superva's shock wave — similar to sonic boom from a supersonic plane — interacting with surrounding material about four light-years from original explosion point. Optical data from Hubble (orange and red) also show evidence for this interaction in ring.
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Eta Carinae
What will be next star in our Milky Way galaxy to explode as a superva? Astromers aren't certain, but one candidate is in Eta Carinae, a volatile system containing two massive stars that closely orbit each or. This im has three types of light: optical data from Hubble (appearing as white), ultraviolet (cyan) from Hubble, and X-rays from Chandra (appearing as purple emission). previous eruptions of this star have resulted in a ring of hot, X-ray emitting gas about 2.3 light-years in diameter surrounding se two stars.
Cartwheel Galaxy
This galaxy resembles a bull's eye, which is appropriate because its appearance is partly due to a smaller galaxy that passed through middle of this object. violent collision produced shock waves that swept through galaxy and triggered large amounts of star formation. X-rays from Chandra (purple) show disturbed hot gas initially hosted by Cartwheel galaxy being dragged over more than 150,000 light-years by collision. Optical data from Hubble (red, green, and blue) show where this collision may have triggered star formation.
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Helix Nebula
When a star like Sun runs out of fuel, it expands and its outer layers puff off, and n core of star shrinks. This phase is kwn as a "planetary nebula," and astromers expect our Sun will experience this in about 5 billion years. This Helix Nebula im contains infrared data from NASA's Spitzer Telescope (green and red), optical light from Hubble (orange and blue), ultraviolet from NASA's Galaxy Evolution Explorer (cyan), and Chandra's X-rays (appearing as white) showing white dwarf star that formed in center of nebula. im is about four light-years across.
(IMS CREDIT: NASA)
16:17 IST, September 4th 2020