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.
G21.5-0.9 Animations
Click for high-resolution animation
Animation of a Supernova Explosion
Quicktime MPEG When a massive star explodes, it creates a shell of hot gas that glows brightly in X-rays that reveal the dynamics of the explosion. Scientists believe the star that produced the shell seen in G21.5-0.9 was about 20 times as massive as the Sun. Astronomers also deduce that the supernova exploded a few thousand years ago.
[Runtime: 0:16]
(Animation: CXC/A.Hobart)
View Still Photos
Field Guide: Supernovas & Supernova Remnants


Return to G21.5-0.9 (19 Apr 05)