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Chandra Telescope

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Chandra Telescope

Introduction

Chandra telescope was launched to space in 1999 by NASA Company. Before being

named Chandra, the telescope was called Advance X-ray Astrophysics Facility due to its

sensitivity to x-ray sources, enabling it to record higher angular resolutions from its mirrors

(Pandey et al., 2019). Chandra was launched to space, unlike other earth surface telescopes,

considering that the atmospheric effect on x-ray radiations was imminent (Evans et al., 2020).

The atmosphere absorbs most of the x-rays making the rays non-detectable at the ground.

Therefore, Chandra was launched to space as a telescope to help observe and record the x-rays

above the atmosphere through to the universe.

Background History

Chandra telescope was named after Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, an Indian-American

astrophysicist. In design, the telescope was designed to detect x-ray waves that could not be seen

near the earth's surface due to the atmospheric presence and properties of absorbing x-ray

radiations. The telescope operates to detect black holes, supernovas, or even quasars of high

energy within the universe and give part of the cosmos that the eye cannot see (Evans et al.,

2020). Through Chandra's telescope observation, the scientist has been able to observe the

actions in-universe, including the collision of galaxies and cosmic hurricanes of the supernova.

Therefore, Chandra's ability to detect very low radiations of x-ray waves allows the telescope to

observe and record the universe's phenomenon efficiently.

Instruments Aboard
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Chandra, in its model, constituted some vital instrument to its operation. In the telescope

is a Science Instrument Module (SIM) that holds other instruments to the telescope's focal plane.

Also included is the Advance CCD Imaging Spectrometer (ACIS and another instrument, the

High-Resolution Camera (HRC), which operates freely in the movement to observe and record

x-ray radiations from space (Evans et al., 2020). Within the ACIS, the telescope has about 10

CCD chips responsible for imagery and spectral information observed from the object (Pandey et

al., 2019). The telescope swings freely along the mirrors' optical path with the transmission

grating, enhancing the telescope spectroscopy resolution and analysis of the objects observed.

Discoveries that Attributed to This Telescope

Telescope examination of the spectrometer from the ground noticed that x-ray spectra of

the spectrometer were not being recorded at ground level. They were analyzing the cause. It was

established that a higher percentage of the x-rays were being absorbed by the atmosphere, and

having a telescope placed at the ground surface would not detect the x-ray wavelengths (Evans et

al., 2020). Therefore, the astronomical discovery brought forth the development of the Advanced

X-ray Astrophysics Facility, which was quite sensitive to the record of the x-ray radiations. The

Chandra telescope was launched to space to eliminate the atmospheric effect, all modified with

special instruments capable of recording the x-rays and emission from objects.

Production and Decay

Chandra telescope was assembled and sent to space almost nine years after Hubble's

launching. The telescope looks much more substantial in capabilities and mechanical

management. It has projected possible longevity in its time f decay within space. Time to time

analysis and check of the telescope will likely prolong its decay period to say about the 2050s.
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Thus, the telescope is likely to last another thirty-plus year and be capable of observing and

relaying the x-ray information adequately over its period of operation.

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References

Evans, N. R., Günther, H. M., Bond, H. E., Schaefer, G. H., Mason, B. D., Karovska, M.,

Tingle, E., Wolk, S., Engle, S., Guinan, E., Pillitteri, I., Proffitt, C., Kervella, P.,

Gallenne, A., Anderson, R. I., & Moe, M. (2020). Hubble space telescope snapshot

survey for resolved companions of galactic cepheids: Final results based on observations

with the NASA/ESA Hubble space telescope, obtained at the space telescope science

institute, which is operated by the association of universities for research in astronomy,

Inc., under NASA contract NASA5-26555. Based on observations made with the

Chandra X-ray observatory. The Astrophysical Journal, 905(1),

81. https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/abc1f1

Pandey, J. C., Pant, J., & Joshi, Y. C. (2019). A high-resolution spectrograph for the 3.6-m

Devasthal optical telescope of ARIES. Bulletin de la Société Royale des Sciences de

Liège, 43-54. https://doi.org/10.25518/0037-9565.8651