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.
Handouts & Activities: Chandra Lithographs

1. Celestial Fireworks: Supernova Remnants High Res. pdf (2008)
Supernovas that signal the end of massive stars are some of the most dramatic events in the cosmos. With its unique mirrors and instrumentation, Chandra has captured these celestial explosions in spectacular X-ray images.


2. Exploring Black Holes High Res. pdf (2008)
With its unique properties, Chandra is peerless as a black hole probe - both near and far. Not even Chandra can "see" into black holes, but it can tackle many of their other mysteries.


3. Printable 2009 Chandra Calendar pdf (2009)
Print your own 2009 Chandra calendar with spectacular images from the past year. Featured objects include supernova remnants, galaxies in various shapes & sizes and star clusters in our very own Milky Way.


4. Chandra Specifications High Res. pdf (2008) (html)
Information on the overall specifications (size, weight, orbit, etc), spacecraft specifications, science instruments and the telescope system.


5. Einstein All the Time High Res. pdf (2008)
Einstein's fingerprints can be found on virtually every scientific result obtained with Chandra data. These results in turn have expanded our concept of the Universe far beyond what was imagined at the beginning of the 20th century. Three of Einstein's discoveries are described.


6. Chandra Explores "Downtown" in the Milky Way High Res. pdf (2008)
The Milky Way is our home galaxy - a vast rotating spiral of gas, dust, and hundreds of billions of stars. Learn about Chandra observations in the Galactic neighborhood, including supernovas, black holes, neutron stars and more.


7. Galaxy Clusters Optical/X-ray Comparison High Res. pdf (2008)
What is the X-ray Universe? Why observe the Universe with different types of telescopes? These questions and others are answered. Special feature: an activity in which you make an X-ray image of a galaxy cluster.


8. The Universe in a Jelly Bean Jar pdf | flash(2008)
Most of the Universe is dark. The protons, neutrons and electrons that make up the stars, planets and us represent only a small fraction of the mass and energy of the Universe. The rest is dark and mysterious. How can X-rays help reveal the secrets of this darkness?
See also: The Universe Darkly and The Universe.


9. Chandra Favorites pdf (2006)
We asked you which images you enjoyed the most for each year since Chandra launched in 1999. Here are the results. We hope you enjoy the winning pictures and learn more about the exciting Chandra science behind the images. Thank you for voting!


10.The Solar System Through Chandra's Eyes High Res. pdf (2009)
Chandra's specialty is probing the super-hot regions around exploding stars, galaxies, or black holes. But Chandra has also shown that the relatively peaceful realms of space, such as our Solar System, sometimes shine in X-ray light. Note: Comes with detachable bookmark.


11. The Many Faces of Cassiopeia A pdf (2005)
Chandra has been involved in unlocking the mysteries of a stellar explosion in our Galaxy. With its keen X-ray vision, Chandra can resolve incredible detail and new features in the gas and debris still aglow from the original explosion of Cassiopeia A.


12. CXC EPO Program Description/Cluster Activity pdf (2002)
The goals of the Chandra EPO program are to share new discoveries about the universe with broad segments of the public, engage the imaginations of students, teachers and general public, and increase learning opportunities.


13. Tracking Chandra pdf html (2001)
Is Chandra really up there? In case you wondered, take a look at these pictures shot by a 25 cm telescope. Special feature: a tutorial that lets you see what Chandra's orbit looks like using online software.


14. Chandra's 2nd Anniversary pdf (2001)
For the 2nd anniversary of Chandra's launch and First Light, we bring you a look back at some of the spectacular observations that Chandra has taken as well as some highlights of Chandra discoveries.


15. Chandra's Discoveries pdf (2001)
Catch a glimpse of selected black holes, pulsars, exploding stars, galaxy clusters and other objects Chandra has observed. Also includes images and descriptions of Chandra's launch and mission astronauts.


16. Chandra Early Images pdf (2001)
A look at some of Chandra's early images, including Cassiopeia A, M82, Crab Nebula, Andromeda, Eta Carinae, A2142, N132D, 3C295 and Hydra A.


17. Cassiopeia A pdf (2001)
Cassiopeia A (Cas A) is the 320 year old remnant of a massive star that exploded. The Chandra X-ray image made with the Advanced CCD Imaging Spectrometer (ACIS) shows an expanding shell of hot gas produced by the explosion.


18. Crab Nebula pdf (2001)
The Crab Nebula consists of the Crab pulsar surrounded by a diffuse cloud, or nebula. It was created in a supernova explosion seen on Earth in 1054 AD.


19. Supernova Portrait Gallery pdf (2001)
Cassiopeia A, E0102-72, and N132D are examples of what happens after a massive star explodes. The Crab Nebula, PSR 0540-69, and G21.5-0.9 are also the remains of massive stars that have exploded, but the effect of a collapsed core in the form of a neutron star, or pulsar, is visible.


20. The Chandra X-ray Center pdf (2001)
An overview of the Chandra X-ray Center (CXC) and the Operations Control Center (OCC).