Chandra X-ray Observatory NASA's X-ray space telescope By: Christie Balanduk

Design and Physical Specifications Chandra can observe from about 0.09keV to 10keV which corresponds to wavelengths ranging from 0.12nm to 13.78nm. Field of view 1 degree in diameter Since Chandra observes x-rays the mirrors have to be nearly parallel to the incoming rays and are therefore a barrel shape. (NASA/CXC/SAO)

Chandra's Mirrors The mirrors in the Chandra observatory have been called “the largest, most precisely shaped and aligned, and smoothest mirrors ever constructed.”(NASA/CXC/SAO) The scientists and engineers at Raytheon Optical Systems in Danbury, Connecticut managed to grind down the glass until the difference between the highest peaks and lowest ruts were only a few atoms. If the earth were as smooth as these mirrors, the difference between the highest mountain and deepest ocean would be less than six feet tall. (NASA 2009)

Chandra's mirrors cont. The scientists and engineers at Optical Coating Laboratories, Inc., in Santa Rosa, California were then able to clean the glass until there was a maximum of one grain of dust in a space the size of a computer screen. The reflective coating on these mirrors is the very reflective and very rare iridium. “The successful grinding, polishing and coating of the Chandra mirrors were historic technical accomplishments. They are the smoothest and cleanest mirrors ever made” (NASA/CXC/SAO 2012)

NASA/CXC/SAO 2012

Chandra's mirrors cont. The alignment of these four mirrors from one end to the other was accurate to about one fiftieth of the width of a human hair. (NASA/CXC/SAO 2012)

Resolution After Chandra had been shipped all over the united states to construct, clean, and coat the mirrors Chandra was sent to be tested at the Marshall Space Flight Center. Tests completed in May 1997 found that Chandra could produce x-ray images that were 25 times sharper than the previous best x-ray telescope. “The telescope's resolution is equivalent to being able to read the text of a newspaper from half a mile away.” (NASA/CXC/SAO 2012)

Chandra X-ray Observatory Schematic of Grazing Incidence, X-ray Mirrors NASA/CXC/D. Berry 2009 CXC

Chandra Instruments Advanced Charged Couple Imaging Spectrometer (ACIS) is a system of ten CCDs arranged into two arrays for imaging and spectroscopy. High Resolution Camera (HRC). “Uses large field-of-view micro-channel plates to make X-ray images” High Energy Transmission Grating (HETG) and Low Energy Transmission Grating (LETG) are inserted into focused X-ray beams to provide spectral resolution over different energy ranges. (NASA/CXC/SAO)

NASA/CXC/SAO. Jan. 7 2016.

NASA/CXC/SAO. Jan. 6 2016.

NASA/CXC/SAO. Jan. 5 2016.

NASA/CXC/SAO 2014

Chandra's History Chandra was first launched into space in July 1999 Chandra is in orbit as this telescope observes X-rays which our atmosphere is opaque to so the only option is a space observatory! One of NASA's four great space observatories intended so that astronomers could overlap pictures of an object at many different wavelengths (NASA 2009)

NASA/CXC/SAO. Jan. 7 2016.

NASA/CXC/SAO. Jan. 7 2016.

How to Request Time Using this Telescope They have a website! Some forms need to be filled out to explain what the purpose of your experiment will be , any past experience you have with this telescope, a cost proposal or information about grant money, etc. They have tools to help simulate any observations you hope to make and previous approved proposals listed and easily accessible on the website (The Chandra X-Ray Center. 2016)

The Chandra Mission 2014

NASA/CXC/SAO. Jan. 7 2016.

References NASA/CXC/SAO. Chandra Specifications. Cambridge, MA. Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. http://chandra.si.edu/graphics/resources/handouts/lithos/chandra_specs_litho.pdf NASA. 2009. NASA’s Great Observatories www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/postsecondary/features/F_NASA_Great_Observatories_PS.html NASA/CXC/SAO. 2012. Telescope System. Chandra X-ray Observatory. Cambridge, MA. Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. http://chandra.si.edu/about/telescope_system.html NASA/CXC/D.Berry. 2009. Schematic of Grazing Incidence, X-Ray Mirror. Chandra X-ray Observatory. Cambridge, MA. Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. http://chandra.si.edu/resources/illustrations/teleSchem.html#xray_mirror NASA/CXC/SAO. Jan. 7 2016. IDCS J1426.5+3508: NASA's Great Observatories Weigh Massive Young Galaxy Cluster. Chandra X-ray Observatory. Cambridge, MA. Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. http://chandra.si.edu/photo/2016/idcs1426/ NASA/CXC/SAO. Jan. 6 2016. Galactic merger reveals an unusual star-deprived black hole. Chandra X-ray Observatory. Cambridge, MA. Harvard- Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. http://chandra.si.edu/press/16_releases/press_010616.html NASA/CXC/SAO. Jan. 5 2016. NGC 5195: NASA's Chandra Finds Supermassive Black Hole Burping Nearby. Chandra X-ray Observatory. Cambridge, MA. Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. http://chandra.si.edu/photo/2016/ngc5195/ NASA/CXC/SAO. 2014. Spacecraft. Chandra X-ray Observatory. Cambridge, MA. Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. http://chandra.si.edu/about/spacecraft.html The Chandra X-Ray Center. 2016. Chandra Proposal Information. Cambridge, MA. Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. http://cxc.harvard.edu/proposer/ The Chandra Mission. 2014. Chandra X-ray Observatory. Cambridge, MA. Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. http://chandra.si.edu/about/axaf_mission.html Brodwin M, McDonald M, Gonzalez A H, Stanford S A, Eisenhardt P R, Stern D, Zeimann G R. 2015. IDCS J1426.5+3508: The Most Massive Galaxy Cluster at z > 1.5. American Astronomical Society, AAS Meeting #227 http://arxiv.org/abs/1504.01397