The vast expanse of space holds many secrets, and NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory has been working tirelessly to uncover them. By combining data from Chandra with other telescopes operating in the visible light and infrared wavelengths, a series of five new images have been created, showcasing the beauty of the universe as seen in the X-ray wavelength. These breathtaking images reveal a range of objects, from the heart of the Milky Way to supernova remnants, each one presenting a unique view of the high-energy universe.
The first image, the Galactic Center, is a stunning representation of the center of the Milky Way galaxy. The cloud of pink, orange, red, and purple gases is dotted with brilliant orbs of light, surrounded by a dense field of specks that blanket the sky. The colors used in this image, orange, blue, and purple, represent the X-ray light from the Chandra X-ray Observatory, which captures the energy in the X-ray wavelength. This cloud is a hub of activity, featuring massive stars, incredibly dense neutron stars, superheated clouds of gas, and a supermassive black hole named Sagittarius A*.
The image is a visual representation of the energetic processes taking place in the galaxy’s center. The pink and orange hues demonstrate the high temperatures and energetic activity within the cloud, while the blue and purple colors represent the X-ray light emitted by the hot gas and energetic particles. The Galactic Center image offers a Look into the dynamic and complex nature of our galaxy’s heart.
Kepler’s Supernova Remnant is another image that presents a unique perspective of the universe. This image showcases the remains of a white dwarf star that was destroyed by a thermonuclear explosion. The remnant resembles a knotted ball of crackling blue, red, and white energy, set against a black sky dotted with pale blue specks. The red streaks and patches of mottled turquoise represent debris from the destroyed star, while the web of translucent electric blue veins that encircles and weaves through the knot represents the powerful blast wave captured by Chandra.
The Universe Comes Alive with Stunning Chandra X-ray Images
The image reveals the aftermath of the explosion, where the hot gas and debris are still interacting and expanding. The colors used in this image, blue and red, represent the X-ray light and visible light from the explosion, while the wispy blue veins represent the shockwave that is driving the expansion. The Supernova Remnant image provides a fascinating view of the energetic and dynamic processes that occur in these events.
ESO 137-001 is a nearby galaxy that is moving through space at a tremendous speed of 1.5 million miles per hour. The galaxy is visible as a bright, pale pink light encircled by translucent blue swirls, leaving two long, pink and purple tails behind it. The galaxy’s twin tails feature streams of pink floating inside superheated purple gas, while clusters of red dots, hydrogen atoms, appear to travel with the galaxy, alongside the flowing tails. X-ray light is represented by the blue color, while visible light is shown in orange and cyan.
This image captures the galaxy’s high-speed motion and the resulting effect on its surroundings. The pink and purple colors demonstrate the hot gas and energetic particles involved in this interaction, while the blue and cyan colors represent the X-ray light and visible light from the galaxy. ESO 137-001’s high-energy environment is fully apparent in this image.
NGC 1365 is a close-up of the spiral galaxy and its supermassive black hole at the center. The galaxy is shown at a dramatic angle, as if the bright pink core is gazing past our right shoulder. Swirls of pale, grey-blue material, resembling waves in a dark ocean, spiral toward the radiant pink core. Glowing pink circles and flecks of red dot the churning spiral galaxy. X-ray light captured by Chandra is rendered in hot pinks and purples.
The NGC 1365 image reveals the intricate structure of the galaxy’s center, featuring a bright central core surrounded by a disk of hot gas and energetic stars. The pink and purple colors demonstrate the hot gas and energetic particles involved in this environment. The galaxy’s spiraling structure is driven by the supermassive black hole at its center, which pulls in and heats up the surrounding gas.
The Vela Pulsar is the final image in this series, showcasing the aftermath of a collapsed and exploded star sending a jet of particles into space. The pulsar resembles a soft, pillowy, lavender bean in a pocket of blue gas. A faint stream of gas, the X-ray jet, appears to shoot from the pocket, heading into the distance at our upper right. Purple markings in the lavender bean shape strongly resemble narrow eyes and an open mouth, giving the pulsar a squinting happy face. X-ray light is shown in blues and purples.
This image presents a charming view of the pulsar’s high-energy state, where the hot gas and particles are distributed in the expanding nebula. The lavender and purple colors demonstrate the X-ray light and hot gas from the explosion, while the blue colors represent the visible light from the surrounding gas. The Vela Pulsar image is a fascinating example of the intricate dynamics and high-energy physics that occur in these events.
