Space images always captivate our imagination, don’t they?
Marking the 25th anniversary of the Chandra X-ray Observatory’s launch, NASA has unveiled 25 stunning new images captured by this remarkable telescope. These images highlight everything from supermassive black holes to the remnants of supernovas.
The telescope’s cutting-edge X-ray technology allows it to illuminate regions of space that scientists can’t see with other instruments, including the matter swirling around black holes and the debris from exploding stars.
“For a quarter century, Chandra has made discovery after amazing discovery,” said Pat Slane, director of the Chandra X-ray Center. “Astronomers have used Chandra to investigate mysteries that we didn’t even know about when we were building the telescope — including exoplanets and dark energy.”
You can view the entire gallery here, but we’ve selected five images below along with their descriptions to give you a preview of these extraordinary phenomena.
Space Images NGC 6872
In this composite image, a massive spiral galaxy is seen losing some of its superheated gas to a smaller neighboring galaxy. NGC 6872, centered in the frame, has two extended arms that stretch toward the upper right and lower left.
Near the galaxy’s core, a cloud of neon purple signifies hot gas detected by Chandra, with the arms appearing steel blue at the tips. Just to the upper left, a smaller spiral galaxy shows a bright white core, indicating a supermassive black hole. Some of the gas from NGC 6872’s lower arm seems to be drifting towards the smaller galaxy, likely drawn by the black hole’s gravity.
Space Images NGC 1365
This composite image offers a close-up of the supermassive black hole at the center of the spiral galaxy NGC 1365. The black hole glows white at the center, with bright blue edges. From this core, two thick, rope-like red arms spiral outwards, extending beyond the frame. White spots with neon blue edges, representing stars paired with smaller black holes or neutron stars, dot the image.
Space Images MSH 15-52
In this composite image, a pulsar, a pulsar wind nebula, and a low-energy X-ray cloud create an eerie scene resembling a skeletal hand reaching for a glowing ember. The hand, extending from the bottom, is depicted with ghostly blue and white hues, representing X-rays observed by Chandra. The pulsar itself is a bright white spot at the wrist. Near the fingertips, a yellow and orange shape glows, representing the low-energy X-ray cloud observed by Chandra.
Space Images Jupiter
This composite image of Jupiter, the fifth planet from the sun, showcases the planet against the blackness of space, flanked by neon purple blobs. Jupiter’s surface features more than a dozen bands of swirling gas in varying textures and shades of grey, encircled by a fine sky-blue ring.
The large storm on its surface is the same color. Neon purple strips at the top and bottom edges of Jupiter indicate X-ray auroras, created by high-energy particles colliding with the planet’s atmospheric gas. Large hazy purple blobs flanking Jupiter represent X-rays observed by Chandra.
Space Images M16 (Eagle Nebula)
This composite image captures the star-forming region known as the Pillars of Creation. Tall columns of grey gas and dust emerge from the bottom edge, backed by dark orange and pink mist, and stretch toward the upper right.
Surrounded by glowing dots in various colors, these columns are young stars emitting X-ray and infrared light. The misty glow, colorful stars, and lifelike grey dust formations create an image resembling cloud creatures reaching out at dusk.
Explore these mesmerizing images and more to witness the wonders of our universe through the lens of Chandra X-ray Observatory.
