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Epic new photos from 25 years of Nasa's Chandra X-ray observatory

24 July 2024

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Image source, NASA
Image caption,
Cassiopeia A is a supernova around 11,000 light-years away from Earth. It was the first supernova to be observed through light imagery soon after Chandra was launched in 1999.
Image source, NASA
Image caption,
This is a rare class of massive star called a Wolf-Rayet star - this one is called WR 124. It's about 30 times heavier than the Sun and can be found about 15,000 light-years away from Earth.
Image source, NASA
Image caption,
The Serpens Nebula is 1,3000 light-years away from Earth and is a region where stars are formed. The shadow, which looks a bit like a bat, is really big, around 200 times bigger than the diameter of our solar system.
Image source, NASA
Image caption,
This beautiful image captures the Crab Nebula, an expanding supernova remnant of a star's supernova explosion. This new image from the Chandra has captured the rings around the white pulsar.
Image source, NASA
Image caption,
This is an image of the Orion Nebula, a large cloud in our galaxy about 1,500 light-years away where stars are born. The neon pink splodges are actually newly-formed stars.

The world's most powerful X-ray observatory is celebrating 25 years since it was launched high above Earth's atmosphere.

Data from the Chandra X-ray observatory helps create images revealing information scientists can use to help our understanding of space and the universe.

X-rays in space reveal extremely hot objects like exploded stars and material around black holes which glow strongly and can be studied with Chandra.

Nasa has released 25 images to celebrate the anniversary, scroll down to see a gallery of some of our favourites.

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