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25 Images for Chandra's 25th Anniversary: 25 Images to Celebrate!
25 Images for Chandra's 25th Anniversary
Visual Description:

  • A collection of 25 new images has been released to celebrate the 25th anniversary of NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory.

  • The telescope was launched into space aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia on July 23, 1999.

  • Since then, Chandra has observed thousands of objects — some of them repeatedly — to make unparalleled discoveries.

  • This assembly represents the range of objects and phenomena that Chandra studies from black holes to exploded stars and much more.

This montage contains 25 new images with data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory that is being released to commemorate the telescope’s 25th anniversary in space, as described in our latest press release. Since its launch into space on July 23, 1999, Chandra has been NASA’s flagship mission for X-ray astronomy in its fleet of “Great Observatories.” Chandra discovers exotic new phenomena and examines old mysteries, looking at objects within our own Solar System out to nearly the edge of the observable Universe.

25 images displayed in a 5 by 5 image grid
25th Anniversary Images, Labeled (Credit: NASA/SAO/CXC)

These images, which all include data from Chandra, demonstrate how X-ray astronomy explores all corners of the universe. (Some of the images have Chandra data newly added to previously released images and data from other telescopes.) There is a broad range of astronomical objects in this collection. At the center is one of Chandra’s most iconic targets, the supernova remnant Cassiopeia A (Cas A). This was one of the very first objects observed by Chandra after its launch in 1999, and astronomers have often returned to observe Cas A with Chandra since then.

Chandra quickly discovered a point source of X-rays in Cas A’s center for the first time, later confirmed to be a neutron star. Later Chandra was used to discover evidence for a “superfluid” inside Cas A’s neutron star, to reveal that the original massive star may have turned inside out as it exploded, and to take an important step in pinpointing how giant stars explode.

25th anniversary image of Cassiopeia A
Cassiopeia A in X-ray & Infrared Light (Credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO; Infrared: NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI/D. Milisavljevic (Purdue Univ.), I. De Looze (UGent), T. Temim (Princeton Univ.); Image Processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/J. Major, J. Schmidt and K. Arcand)

The unmatched sharpness of Chandra’s X-ray images are perfect for studying the hot debris and energetic particles remaining behind after supernova explosions. Other examples in this new collection include the Crab Nebula, G21.5-0.9, MSH 15-52, and SN 1987A. Chandra also probes the different branches of stellar evolution such as “planetary nebulas” when stars like the Sun run out of fuel and shed their outer layers as seen in the Chandra image of HB 5.

Chandra also looks at what happens at the start of the stellar life cycle, providing information about some of the youngest and most massive stars. Images of these stellar nurseries in the “25 for 25” montage include the Orion Nebula, Cat’s Paw, M16 (a.k.a., the “Pillars of Creation”), the Bat Shadow and NGC 3324. A view of a more mature star cluster, NGC 3532, is also included. X-ray data are particularly useful for studying objects like this because young stars are often copious producers of X-rays, allowing stars that are members of clusters to be picked out of a foreground or background of older objects. Chandra’s sharp images and sensitivity also allow many more sources to be seen.

25th anniversary image of M16
M16 in X-ray & Infrared Light (Credit: X-ray: NASA/CXO/SAO; Infrared: NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI; Image processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/L. Frattare)

Chandra observes galaxies — including our own Milky Way, where a supermassive black hole resides at its center. Chandra also studies other galaxies and this is represented in the new images of NGC 7469, Centaurus A, NGC 6872, NGC 1365, and Arp 220.

Astronomers look at even larger structures like galaxy clusters with Chandra, where hundreds or thousands of galaxies are immersed in multimillion-degree gas that only an X-ray telescope can detect. In this release of images, M86 and the Virgo cluster, Abell 2125, and MACS J0035 are examples of galaxy clusters Chandra has observed.

Closer to home, Chandra has contributed to the study of planets and comets in our own Solar System including Venus, Mars, Saturn, and even Earth itself. This ability to explore the Solar System is represented by the image of aurora on Jupiter, captured in X-rays, in this collection.

A full list of the 25 images celebrating Chandra’s 25th, along with the data included and what the colors represent, is available at https://chandra.si.edu/photo/2024/25th/more.html.

Images of some of these objects had previously been released, but now include new X-ray data or have been combined with different data from other telescopes. Some of these objects have never been released before with Chandra data.

NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center manages the Chandra program. The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory's Chandra X-ray Center controls science from Cambridge Massachusetts and flight operations from Burlington, Massachusetts.

 

Visual Description:

This image shows a collection of 25 new space images celebrating the Chandra X-ray Observatory's 25th anniversary. The images are arranged in a grid, displayed as five images across in five separate rows. Starting from the upper left, and going across each row, the objects imaged are: Crab Nebula, Orion Nebula, The Eyes Galaxies, Cat's Paw Nebula, Milky Way's Galactic Center, M16, Bat Shadow, NGC 7469, Virgo Cluster, WR 124, G21.5-0.9, Centaurus A, Cassiopeia A, NGC 3532, NGC 6872, Hb 5, Abell 2125, NGC 3324, NGC 1365, MSH 15-52, Arp 220, Jupiter, NGC 1850, MACS J0035, SN 1987A.

 

Fast Facts for Crab Nebula:
Credit:  X-ray: (Chandra) NASA/CXC/SAO, (IXPE) NASA/MSFC; Optical: NASA/ESA/STScI; Image Processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/J. Schmidt, K. Arcand, and L. Frattare
Release Date:  July 22, 2024
Scale:  Image is about 6.4 arcmin (12 light-years) across.
Category  Supernovas & Supernova Remnants, Neutron Stars/X-ray Binaries
Coordinates (J2000):   RA: 05h 34m 32s | Dec: +22° 0.0' 52.00"
Constellation:  Taurus
Observation Date(s):  48 observations between March 2000 and November 2013
Observation Time:  25 hours 28 minutes (1 day 1 hour 28 minutes)
Obs. IDs:  769-773, 1994-2001, 4607, 13139, 13146, 13147, 13150-13154, 13204-13210, 13750-13752, 13754-13757, 14416, 14458, 14678-14682, 14685, 16245, 16257, 16357, 16358
Instrument:  ACIS
References:  Dubner, G. et al. 2017, ApJ, 840, 82; arXiv:1704.02968
Color Code:  X-ray: (Chandra) blue and white, (IXPE) purple; Optical: red, green, blue
Distance Estimate:  About 6,500 light-years from Earth
Optical
X-ray
distance arrow

 

Fast Facts for Orion Nebula:
Credit:  X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO; Infrared: NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI/M. Mccaughrean, S. Pearson; Image Processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/K. Arcand and J. Major
Release Date:  July 22, 2024
Scale:  Image is about 3.25 arcmin (1.3 light-years) across.
Category  Normal Stars and Star Clusters
Coordinates (J2000):   RA: 5h 35m 14.3s | Dec: -5° 23' 37.9"
Constellation:  Orion
Observation Date(s):  6 pointings between Jan 8 and Jan 21, 2003
Observation Time:  232 hours 49 minutes (9 days 16 hours 49 minutes)
Obs. IDs:  3498, 3744, 4373, 4374, 4395, 4396
Instrument:  ACIS
References:  Flaischlen, S. et al. 2021, A&A, 648, 121; arXiv:2103.03039
Color Code:  X-ray: magenta; Infrared: red, green, blue
Distance Estimate:  About 1,310 light-years from Earth
IR
X-ray
distance arrow

 

Fast Facts for The Eyes Galaxies (NGC 4438 and NGC 4435):
Credit:  X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO; Optical: ESO; Image processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/J. Major
Release Date:  July 22, 2024
Scale:  Image is about 6.3 arcmin (98,000 light-years) across.
Category  Groups & Clusters of Galaxies
Coordinates (J2000):   RA: 12h 27m 45.6s | Dec: +13° 00' 31"
Constellation:  Virgo
Observation Date(s):  7 observations from Jan 2002 to March 2020
Observation Time:  36 hours (1 day 12 hours)
Obs. IDs:  2283, 5684, 8042, 21376, 23037, 23189, 23200
Instrument:  ACIS
References:  Irwin, J. et al. 2022, MNRAS, 512, 13225; arXiv:2202.13225
Color Code:  X-ray: purple; Optical: red, green, blue
Distance Estimate:  About 53.8 million light-years from Earth
Optical
X-ray
distance arrow

 

Fast Facts for The Cat's Paw Nebula (NGC 6334):
Credit:  X-ray: NASA/SAO/CXC; Optical and H-alpha: ESO/MPG; Infrared: NASA/JPL-CalTech/Spitzer; Image Processing: J. Major
Release Date:  July 22, 2024
Scale:  Image is about 30.7 arcmin (40.3 light-years) across.
Category  Normal Stars and Star Clusters
Coordinates (J2000):   RA: 17h 20m 10.5s | Dec: -35° 57′ 04"
Constellation:  Scorpius
Observation Date(s):  5 observations from Aug 2002 to July 2016
Observation Time:  58 hours 47 minutes (2 days 10 hours 47 minutes)
Obs. IDs:  2573, 2574, 12382, 13436, 18081
Instrument:  ACIS
Color Code:  X-ray: purple; Optical and H-alpha: red, green, blue; Infrared: red, green, blue;
Distance Estimate:  About 4,370 light-years from Earth
IR
Optical
X-ray
distance arrow

 

Fast Facts for Milky Way's Galactic Center:
Credit:  X-ray: NASA/CXC/UMass/Q.D. Wang; Radio: NRF/SARAO/MeerKAT; Image processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/N. Wolk
Release Date:  July 22, 2024
Scale:  Image is about 96 arcmin (725 light-years) across.
Category  Normal Galaxies
Coordinates (J2000):   RA: 17h 45m 23.5s | Dec: -29° 02' 00.1"
Constellation:  Sagittarius
Observation Date(s):  370 observations from Sept 9, 1999 to July 28, 2019
Observation Time:  1555 hours 26 minutes (64 days 19 hours 26 minutes)
Obs. IDs:  21581-21628 and 323 others
Instrument:  ACIS
References:  Wang, Q.D., Universe, 8, 515
Color Code:  X-ray: orange (1-2.5 keV), green(2.5-4 keV), blue (4-6 keV), purple(6-9 keV); Radio: lilac
Distance Estimate:  About 26,000 light-years from Earth
Radio
X-ray
distance arrow

 

Fast Facts for M16 (Eagle Nebula):
Credit:  X-ray: NASA/CXO/SAO; Infrared: NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI; Image processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/L. Frattare
Release Date:  July 22, 2024
Scale:  Image is about 2.5 arcmin (4.7 light-years) across.
Category  Normal Stars and Star Clusters
Coordinates (J2000):   RA: 18h 18m 48.17s | Dec: -13° 48' 26.03"
Constellation:  Serpens
Observation Date(s):  30 July, 2001
Observation Time:  22 hours
Obs. IDs:  978
Instrument:  ACIS
Color Code:  X-ray: red, blue; IR: red, green, blue
Distance Estimate:  About 6,500 light-years from Earth
IR
X-ray
distance arrow

 

Fast Facts for Bat Shadow (Serpens Cloud):
Credit:  X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO; Optical: NASA/ESA/STScI; Image Processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/J. Major
Release Date:  July 22, 2024
Scale:  Image is about 2 arcmin (0.75 light-years) across.
Category  Normal Stars and Star Clusters
Coordinates (J2000):   RA: 18h 29m 58s | Dec: +1° 14' 29.9"
Constellation:  Serpens
Observation Date(s):  370 observations from Sept 9, 1999 to July 28, 2019
Observation Time:  24 hours 34 minutes (1 day 34 minutes)
Obs. IDs:  4479
Instrument:  ACIS
References:  Winston, E. et al. 2010, AJ, 140, 266; arXiv:1005.5324
Color Code:  X-ray: purple; Optical: red, green, blue
Distance Estimate:  About 1,300 light-years from Earth
Optical
X-ray
distance arrow

 

Fast Facts for NGC 7469:
Credit:  X-ray: NASA/CXC/Xiamen Univ./X. Xu; Optical/Infrared: NASA/ESA/UVA, NRAO, SUNY at Stony Brook/A. S. Evans, Hubble Heritage–ESA/Hubble Collaboration; Infrared: NASA/ESA/CSA/L. Armus, A. S. Evans; Image Processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/J. Major
Release Date:  July 22, 2024
Scale:  Image is about 2.15 arcmin (140,000 light-years) across.
Category  Normal Galaxies, Groups & Clusters of Galaxies
Coordinates (J2000):   RA: 23h 03m 15.6s | Dec: +08° 52′ 26″
Constellation:  Pegasus
Observation Date(s):  10 observations from Dec 2002 to Jan 2016
Observation Time:  106 hours (4 days, 10 hours)
Obs. IDs:  2956, 3147, 18622, 18623, 18733-18738
Instrument:  ACIS
References:  Xiaoyu, X. and Wang, J., 2022, ApJ, 933, 110; arxiv:2206.09602
Color Code:  X-ray: purple; Optical/Infrared: red, green, blue; Infrared: red, green, blue;
Distance Estimate:  About 230 million light-years from Earth
IR
Optical
X-ray
distance arrow

 

Fast Facts for Virgo Cluster (including M86):
Credit:  X-ray: (Chandra) NASA/CXC/SAO; (XMM) ESA; H-alpha: NoirLab/NSF/KPNO; Optical: SDSS; CalTech/Palomar; Image processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/J. Major and K. Arcand
Release Date:  July 22, 2024
Scale:  Image is about 60 arcmin (960,000 light-years) across.
Category  Normal Galaxies, Starburst Galaxies, Groups & Clusters of Galaxies
Coordinates (J2000):   RA: 12h 26m 12.0s | Dec: +12° 57´ 00.0"
Constellation:  Virgo
Observation Date(s):  9 observations from April 7, 2000 through Nov 7, 2005
Observation Time:  67 hours 30 minutes (2 days 19 hours 30 minutes)
Obs. IDs:  318, 803, 963, 1619, 2882, 5908, 5912, 5913, 6131
Instrument:  ACIS
References:  Randall, S. et al. 2008, 688, 208; arXiv:0806.0866
Color Code:  X-ray: (Chandra) purple, (XMM) blue, orange; H-alpha: red; Optical: (DSS) red, green, blue, (Palomar) red, green, blue
Distance Estimate:  About 55 million light-years from Earth
Optical
X-ray
distance arrow

 

Fast Facts for WR 124:
Credit:  X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO; Infrared: (Herschel) ESA/NASA/Caltech, (Spitzer) NASA/JPL/Caltech, (WISE) NASA/JPL/Caltech; Infrared: NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI/Webb ERO Production Team; Image processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/J. Major
Release Date:  July 22, 2024
Scale:  Image is about 2.2 arcmin (18 light-years) across.
Category  Normal Stars and Star Clusters
Coordinates (J2000):   RA: 19h 11m 30.8s | Dec: +16° 51′ 38.20″
Constellation:  Sagittarius
Observation Date(s):  4 observations from July 10-14, 2017
Observation Time:  26 hours (1 day 2 hours)
Obs. IDs:  18929, 20108-20110
Instrument:  ACIS
References:  Toala, J. et al., 2018, ApJL, 869, L11. arXiv:1811.10691
Color Code:  X-ray: purple; Infrared (Herschel, Spitzer, WISE): blue; Infrared (JWST): red, green, blue;
Distance Estimate:  About 28,000 light-years from Earth
IR
X-ray
distance arrow

 

Fast Facts for G21.5-0.9:
Credit:  X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO; Infrared: NASA/JPL/CalTech/Spitzer; Radio: NSF/NRAO/VLA; Image Processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/L. Frattare
Release Date:  July 22, 2024
Scale:  Image is about 6.3 arcmin (36.7 light-years) across.
Category  Supernovas & Supernova Remnants
Coordinates (J2000):   RA: 18h 33m 33.50s | Dec: -10° 34´ 06.70"
Constellation:  Scutum
Observation Date(s):  60 pointings between Aug 23, 1999 and Feb 22, 2006
Observation Time:  147 hours 57 minutes (6 days 3 hours 57 minutes)
Obs. IDs:  158-162, 165, 1230, 1233, 1433-1434, 1441-1443, 1551-1554, 1716-1729, 1769-1782, 1838-1840, 2872-2873, 3473-3474, 3693, 3699-3700, 4353, 5158-5159, 5165-1566
Instrument:  ACIS
References:  Guest, B.T. et al., 2019, MNRAS, 482, 1031. arXiv:1810.01461
Color Code:  X-ray: purple and orange; Infrared: yellow; Radio: yellow
Distance Estimate:  About 20,000 light-years from Earth
Radio
IR
X-ray
distance arrow

 

Fast Facts for Centaurus A (Cen A):
Credit:  X-ray: (Chandra) NASA/CXC/SAO, (IXPE) NASA/MSFC; Optical: ESO; Image Processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/K. Arcand, J. Major, and J. Schmidt
Release Date:  July 22, 2024
Scale:  Image is about 25 arcmin (87,000 light-years) across.
Category  Quasars & Active Galaxies
Coordinates (J2000):   RA: 13h 25m 27.62s | Dec: -43° 01´ 08.80"
Constellation:  Centaurus
Observation Date(s):  21 pointings between 05 Dec 1999 and 29 Aug 2012
Observation Time:  229 hours 57 minutes (9 days 13 hours 57 min)
Obs. IDs:  316, 962, 2978, 3965, 7797-7799, 7800, 8489, 8490, 10722, 10723, 10724-10726, 11846, 11847, 12155, 12156, 13303, 13304
Instrument:  ACIS
References:  Snios, B. et al. 2019, ApJ, 871, 219; arXiv:1901.00509
Color Code:  X-ray: (Chandra) red, green, blue, (IXPE) red, green blue; Optical: red, green, blue
Distance Estimate:  About 12 million light-years from Earth
Optical
X-ray
distance arrow

 

Fast Facts for Cassiopeia A (Cas A):
Credit:  X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO; Infrared: NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI/D. Milisavljevic (Purdue Univ.), I. De Looze (UGent), T. Temim (Princeton Univ.); Image Processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/J. Schmidt, K. Arcand, and J. Major
Release Date:  July 22, 2024
Scale:  Image is about 8 arcmin (26 light-years) across.
Category  Supernovas & Supernova Remnants
Coordinates (J2000):   RA: 23h 23m 26.7s | Dec: +58° 49' 03.00"
Constellation:  Cassiopeia
Observation Date(s):  9 observations in 2004: Feb 9 through May 5
Observation Time:  277 hours 58 minutes (11 days 13 hours 58 minutes)
Obs. IDs:  4634-4639, 5196, 5319-5320
Instrument:  ACIS
Color Code:  X-ray: blue; Infrared: orange, white, blue
Distance Estimate:  About 11,000 light-years from Earth
IR
X-ray
distance arrow

 

Fast Facts for NGC 3532:
Credit:  X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO; Optical: ESO; Image Processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/J. Major
Release Date:  July 22, 2024
Scale:  Image is about 17.3 arcmin (6.6 light-years) across.
Category  Normal Stars and Star Clusters
Coordinates (J2000):   RA: 11h 5m 9.8s | Dec: -58° 50' 17.9"
Constellation:  Carina
Observation Date(s):  October 23, 2008
Observation Time:  36 hours 9 minutes (1 day 12 hours 9 minutes)
Obs. IDs:  8941
Instrument:  ACIS
References:  Chen, S. et al. 2023, ApJ, 948, 59; arXiv:2212.13322
Color Code:  X-ray: purple, white; Optical: red, green, blue
Distance Estimate:  About 1,580 light-years from Earth
Optical
X-ray
distance arrow

 

Fast Facts for NGC 6872:
Credit:  X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO; Optical: NASA/ESA/STScI; Image Processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/J. Schmidt, L. Frattare, and J. Major
Release Date:  July 22, 2024
Scale:  Image is about 6.7 arcmin (360,000 light-years) across.
Category  Normal Galaxies, Groups & Clusters of Galaxies
Coordinates (J2000):   RA: 20h 16m 57s | Dec: -70° 46' 4.6"
Constellation:  Pavo
Observation Date(s):  December 14 & 16, 2005
Observation Time:  21 hours
Obs. IDs:  7248, 7059
Instrument:  ACIS
References:  Machacek, M. et al. 2009, ApJ, 691, 1921; arXiv:0810.3577
Color Code:  X-ray: purple; Optical: red, green, blue
Distance Estimate:  About 190 million light-years from Earth
Optical
X-ray
distance arrow

 

Fast Facts for Hb5:
Credit:  X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO; Optical: NASA/ESA/STScI; Radio: NSF/ESO/NRAO/ALMA/RIT (P. Moraga Baez, J. Kastner); Image Processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/K. Arcand, J. Major
Release Date:  July 22, 2024
Scale:  Image is about 1.04 arcmin (1.7 light-years) across.
Category  White Dwarfs & Planetary Nebulas
Coordinates (J2000):   RA: 17h 47m 56.3s | Dec: -29° 59' 40.1'
Constellation:  Sagittarius
Observation Date(s):  Oct 18, 2013
Observation Time:  8 hours
Obs. IDs:  14596
Instrument:  ACIS
References:  Freeman, M. et al. 2014, ApJ, 794, 99; arXiv:1407.4141
Color Code:  X-ray: blue/white; Optical: red, purple, blue; Radio: yellow/white
Distance Estimate:  About 5,500 light-years from Earth
Radio
Optical
X-ray
distance arrow

 

Fast Facts for Abell 2125:
Credit:  X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO; Optical: NSF/NOIRLab/KPNO/F. Owen; Image Processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/J. Major, K. Arcand
Release Date:  July 22, 2024
Scale:  Image is about 17 arcmin (13 million light-years) across.
Category  Groups & Clusters of Galaxies
Coordinates (J2000):   RA: 15h 41m 14.1s | Dec: +66° 15' 56.9"
Constellation:  Ursa Minor
Observation Date(s):  2 observations: Aug 24, 2001 and Jun 13, 2007
Observation Time:  23 hours 57 minutes
Obs. IDs:  2207, 7708
Instrument:  ACIS
References:  Comis, B. et al. 2011, MNRAS, 418, 1089; arXiv:1108.1029
Color Code:  X-ray: purple/white; Optical: gold
Distance Estimate:  About 3 billion light-years from Earth
Optical
X-ray
distance arrow

 

Fast Facts for NGC 3324:
Credit:  X-ray: NASA/CXC/Ludwig Maximilian Univ./T. Preibisch et al.; Infrared: NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI; Image processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/N. Wolk
Release Date:  July 22, 2024
Scale:  Image is about 23.6 arcmin (52 light-years) across.
Category  Normal Stars and Star Clusters
Coordinates (J2000):   RA: 10h 37m 27.7s | Dec: -58° 37' 39.9"
Constellation:  Carina
Observation Date(s):  Oct 08, 2012
Observation Time:  19 hours 8 minutes
Obs. IDs:  13613
Instrument:  ACIS
References:  Preibisch, T. et al. 2014, A&A, 564, A120; arXiv:1403.7047
Color Code:  X-ray: purple; IR: red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue
Distance Estimate:  About 7,600 light-years from Earth
IR
X-ray
distance arrow

 

Fast Facts for NGC 1365:
Credit:  XX-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO; Optical: ESO/VLT; Infrared: NASA/ESA/STScI/JWST/PHANGS; Image Processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/L. Frattare, J. Major
Release Date:  July 22, 2024
Scale:  Image is about 2.75 arcmin (45,000 light-years) across.
Category  Quasars & Active Galaxies
Coordinates (J2000):   RA: 3h 33m 36.40s | Dec: -36° 08´ 25.00"
Constellation:  Fornax
Observation Date(s):  6 pointings between April 10-23, 2006
Observation Time:  24 hours and 15 minutes (1 day 15 minutes)
Obs. IDs:  6868 - 6873
Instrument:  ACIS
References:  Venturi, G. et al. 2018, A&A, 619, 74; arXiv:1809.01206
Color Code:  X-ray: blue; Optical: yellow, blue; Infrared: red, green, blue
Distance Estimate:  About 56 million light-years from Earth
IR
Optical
X-ray
distance arrow

 

Fast Facts for MSH 15-52:
Credit:  X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO; Optical: NOIRLab/DECam; Image processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/J. Schmidt
Release Date:  July 22, 2024
Scale:  Image is about 46 arcmin (210 light-years) across.
Category  Supernovas & Supernova Remnants, Neutron Stars/X-ray Binaries
Coordinates (J2000):   RA: 15h 13m 55.5s | Dec: -59° 8' 8.8"
Constellation:  Circinus
Observation Date(s):  10 observations from pointings between Aug 14, 2000 and Jun,19 2006
Observation Time:  91 hours 52 minutes (3 days 19 hours 52 minutes)
Obs. IDs:  754, 3833, 3834, 4384, 5534, 5535, 5562, 6116, 6117, 9138
Instrument:  ACIS
References:  Borkowski, K. et al, 2020, ApJ, 895, 32; arXiv:2005.07721
Color Code:  X-ray: gold, blue; Infrared: red, blue
Distance Estimate:  About 16,000 light-years from Earth
Optical
X-ray
distance arrow

 

Fast Facts for Arp 220:
Credit:  X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO; Optical: NASA/ESA/STScI; Infrared: NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI; Image Processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/L. Frattare, J. Major
Release Date:  July 22, 2024
Scale:  Image is about 1.65 arcmin (120,000 light-years) across.
Category  Normal Galaxies, Starburst Galaxies
Coordinates (J2000):   RA: 15h 34m 57.7s | Dec: +23° 30' 05.9"
Constellation:  Serpens
Observation Date(s):  3 observations from Jun 24, 2000 to May 7, 2014
Observation Time:  81 hours 14 minutes (3 days 9 hours 14 minutes)
Obs. IDs:  869, 16092, 16093
Instrument:  ACIS
References:  Paggi, A. et al. 2017, ApJ, 841, 44; arXiv:1705.01547
Color Code:  X-ray: purple; Optical: red, green, blue; Infrared: red, green, blue
Distance Estimate:  About 250 million light-years from Earth
IR
Optical
X-ray
distance arrow

 

Fast Facts for Jupiter:
Credit:  X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO; Infrared: NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI; Image Processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/J. Major, S. Wolk
Release Date:  July 22, 2024
Scale:  Image is about 37 arcseconds across (Jupiter's diameter is 86,900 miles) as viewed from Earth.
Category  Solar System
Observation Date(s):  Dec 18, 2000
Observation Time:  9 hours 57 minutes
Obs. IDs:  1862
Instrument:  HRC-I
References:  Elsner, R.F., et al, 2002, ApJ, 572, 1077; DOI 10.1086/340434
Color Code:  X-ray: purple; Infrared: red, green, blue
Distance Estimate:  About 383 million miles from Earth (at the start of Chandra observations)
IR
X-ray
distance arrow

 

Fast Facts for NGC 1850:
Credit:  X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO; Optical: NASA/ESA/STScI; Infrared: NASA/JPL/CalTech/Spitzer; Image Processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/J. Major, K. Arcand
Release Date:  July 22, 2024
Scale:  Image is about 1.8 arcmin (84 light-years) across.
Category  Normal Stars and Star Clusters
Coordinates (J2000):   RA: 5h 8m 46.9s | Dec: -68° 45' 49.5"
Constellation:  Dorado
Observation Date(s):  12 observations from February 2003 to June 2017
Observation Time:  107 Hours (4 days 11 hours)
Obs. IDs:  3810, 18018-18023, 20042, 20053, 20048, 20067, 20074
Instrument:  ACIS
References:  Saracino, S. et al. 2022, MNRAS, 511, 2914; arXiv:2111.06506
Color Code:  X-ray: magenta; Optical: red, yellow, green, cyan, blue; Infrared: red
Distance Estimate:  About 160,000 light-years from Earth
IR
X-ray
distance arrow

 

Fast Facts for MACS J0035:
Credit:  X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO; Optical: NASA/ESA/STScI; Image Processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/J. Major
Release Date:  July 22, 2024
Scale:  Image is about 5.5 arcmin (9.1 million light-years) across.
Category  Groups & Clusters of Galaxies, Quasars & Active Galaxies
Coordinates (J2000):   RA: 00h 35m 26.5s | Dec: -20° 15' 46.0"
Constellation:  Cetus
Observation Date(s):  Jan 22, 2003
Observation Time:  5 hours 56 minutes
Obs. IDs:  3262
Instrument:  ACIS
References:  Furtak, L. et al. 2023, MNRAS, 522, 5142; arXiv:2303.00025
Color Code:  X-ray: purple; Optical; gold
Distance Estimate:  About 10.5 billion light-years (z=2.06) from Earth
Optical
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Fast Facts for SN 1987A:
Credit:  X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO; Optical/Infrared: NASA/ESA/STScI; Infrared: NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI; Image Processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/J. Major
Release Date:  July 22, 2024
Scale:  Image is about 37 arcsec (30.1 light-years) across.
Category  Supernovas & Supernova Remnants
Coordinates (J2000):   RA: 05h 35m 28.30s | Dec: -69° 16´ 11.10"
Constellation:  Dorado
Observation Date(s):  January 9, 2005
Observation Time:  8 hours
Obs. IDs:  5579
Instrument:  ACIS
References:  Ravi, A. et al. 2024, ApJ, 966, 147; arXiv:2403.07990
Color Code:  X-ray: purple; Optical/Infrared: red, green, blue; Infrared: red, green, blue;
Distance Estimate:  About 168,000 light-years from Earth
IR
Optical
X-ray
distance arrow

 

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