Images
X-ray Images
Chandra Mission
X-ray Astronomy
Chandra People
Podcasts
Chandra in HD
Standard Definition
The Invisible Sky
Two Inch Universe
By Date/Category
Other Features
Animations & Video
Special Features
Audio
Inspirations
3D Files and Resources
Resources
Q & A
Glossary
Acronym Guide
Further Reading
Desktop Images
iPhone Wallpapers
By Date/Category
Miscellaneous
Handouts
Image Handouts
Chandra Lithographs
Chandra Infographics
Educational Activities
Printable Games
Chandra Fact Sheets
Presentations
Entire Collection
By Date
By Category
Presentations
Web Shortcuts
Chandra Blog
RSS Feed
Chronicle
Email Newsletter
News & Noteworthy
Image Use Policy
Questions & Answers
Glossary of Terms
Download Guide
Get Adobe Reader
Problems Viewing?
Having trouble viewing a movie? Make sure you update your video plug-ins. Visit our download center for help.
More Information
Black Holes
X-ray Astronomy Field Guide
Black Holes
Questions and Answers
Black Holes
Chandra Images
Black Holes
Animations & Video: Black Holes
Click for high-resolution animation
1. NOAO Optical and Chandra X-ray Sequence of M74
QuicktimeMPEG This sequence starts with an optical image of the galaxy M74 (a.k.a. NGC 628), which is about 32 million light years from Earth in the constellation Pisces. The view then adds Chandra's X-ray image and zooms onto one source in the galaxy's spiral arm. Astronomers believe this object, named CXOU J013651.1+154547, is a medium-size black hole, which would bridge the size gap between other known black holes.
[Runtime: 0:22]
(X-ray: NASA/CXC/U. of Michigan/J.Liu et al.; Optical: NOAO/AURA/NSF/T.Boroson)

Related Chandra Images:
  • Photo Album: M74

Click for high-resolution animation
2. Simulation of a Galaxy Collision
QuicktimeMPEG Broadcast:
  • QuickTime movie (uncompressed)
  • D1 (0.9 pixel aspect ratio)
  • 720x486
  • 29.97 fps
  • file size = (387.3 MB)
Download Broadcast

This visualization shows two spiral galaxies - each with supermassive black holes at their center - as they collide. In this simulation, the brightness represents gas density while the color indicates temperature in the gas distribution. The latest Chandra results suggest that such collisions may cause extreme black hole and galaxy growth in the early Universe, setting the stage for the birth of quasars. The time scale shown in the upper left of the simulation represents millions of years.
[Runtime: 0:41]
(Tiziana Di Matteo (MPE/CMU), Volker Springel (MPE) & Lars Hernquist (Harvard))

Related Chandra Images:

Click for high-resolution animation
3. Chandra's X-ray Image of Black Holes in the Early Universe
QuicktimeMPEG Broadcast:
  • QuickTime movie (uncompressed)
  • D1 (0.9 pixel aspect ratio)
  • 720x486
  • 29.97 fps
  • file size = (274.5 MB)
Download Broadcast

This sequence begins with the Chandra Deep Field-North, the deepest X-ray image ever taken. Black holes that are also found in submillimeter observations, indicating active star formation in their host galaxies, are then marked. The view then zooms onto one pair of particularly close black holes (known as SMG 123616.1+621513). Astronomers believe these black holes and their galaxies are orbiting each other and will eventually merge. The sequence ends by showing an animation of this scenario.
[Runtime: 0:33]
(X-ray image: NASA/CXC/Penn State/D. Alexander et al.)

Related Chandra Images:

Click for high-resolution animation
4. Best of Chandra Images: Black Holes, Jets & Quasars
QuicktimeMPEG Black holes are so dense and compact that nothing -- not even light -- can escape. Just outside their grasp, though, black holes can alight galaxies by expelling infalling gas and stars (known as quasars), or generate powerful high-energy jets flowng from spiraling disks that surround them. This video presents some of the best Chandra observations of black holes, jets & quasars.
[Runtime: 1:11]
(NASA/CXC/SAO)

Click for high-resolution animation
5. Scenario Dismissed by Chandra Results
QuicktimeMPEG Broadcast:
  • QuickTime movie (uncompressed)
  • D1 (0.9 pixel aspect ratio)
  • 720x486
  • 29.97 fps
  • file size = (32.9 MB)
Download Broadcast

This sequence of artist's renderings shows the scenario ruled out by the latest Chandra results. In this model, a cluster with both low (red) and high (blue) mass stars is drawn toward the black hole. Eventually, the strong gravitational forces would rip the cluster apart, sending its constituent stars into orbit around the black hole.
[Runtime: 0:10]
View Stills
(Illustrations: NASA/CXC/M.Weiss)

Related Chandra Images:

Click for high-resolution animation
6. Animation of Stars Forming Around Black Hole
QuicktimeMPEG Broadcast:
  • QuickTime movie (uncompressed)
  • D1 (0.9 pixel aspect ratio)
  • 720x486
  • 29.97 fps
  • file size = (493.7 MB)
Download Broadcast

This animation shows a disk of red and yellow gas around a supermassive black hole. As the view pulls back, the formation of stars in the outer regions of the disk is seen. These massive stars form when the gas becomes unstable, despite the black hole's enormous gravitational influence, and collapses inwards.
[Runtime: 0:23]
View Stills
(NASA/CXC/A.Hobart)

Related Chandra Images: