An overview of the Chandra mission and goals, Chandra's namesake, top 10 facts.
Classroom activities, printable materials, interactive games & more.
Overview of X-ray Astronomy and X-ray sources: black holes to galaxy clusters.
All Chandra images released to the public listed by date & by category
Current Chandra press releases, status reports, interviews & biographies.
A collection of multimedia, illustrations & animations, a glossary, FAQ & more.
A collection of illustrations, animations and video.
Chandra discoveries in an audio/video format.
Chandra People: Farewell to Brian McNamara
July 18, 2000 ::
The Chandra X-ray Center provides researchers with support that includes data processing and a science data archive. The Center is operated for NASA by the Smithsonian
Astrophysical Observatory and is situated on the campus of Harvard University.
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Astrophysicist Brian McNamara, came to the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory in 1993. Brian is leaving the Chandra X-ray Center on July 18, 2000 to
accept a faculty position at Ohio University. He wants to try teaching; it's something that has been on his mind for a while. He has been working with the Chandra calibration group for seven years
and feels it's time to try something different.
Brian McNamara |
Brian McNamara
Q: What have you liked about SAO?
A: Great place to work, exciting, nice area to live, lots of great people
Q: What are your areas of research interest (i.e. stars, black holes, galaxies, clusters)?
A: Clusters of galaxies, properties of distant clusters, and cluster cooling flows
Q: Are you using Chandra images in your research?
A: Yes
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| Hydra A -- Optical |
Hydra A -- X-ray |
Q: If so, Which image(s)?
A: Hydra A - recently published a paper onAbell 2597, to be observed in September, 2000. Also worked with Mike Wise, MIT/CXC, &, Craig Sarazin, U.VA, on other
Chandra observations of clusters. Also conduct observations with optical telescopes.
Q: How are these images changing your particular area of research? (Give an example.)
A: Major impact - can resolve cores of clusters; see detailed gas in the center; Chandra will have a big impact on understanding cooling flows because of high spatial
resolution!
Q: What would you suggest for future X-ray astronomy missions?
A: Faster, bigger, more expensive! 10 meter optics with 1/2 arc second mirrors would be great. Chandra has spoiled us, it would be difficult to go back to low
resolution.
Additional comments: "It's been a wonderful ride! The past year has been the most exciting in my career."
Now Brian can sit back, relax & enjoy the beautiful Chandra images.
