Recent discoveries and updates of the Chandra mission in video and audio formats.
Sagittarius A* in 60 Seconds (01-21-2010)
Astronomers have long known that the supermassive black hole at the center of our Milky Way galaxy is a particularly poor eater.
Astronomers have long known that the supermassive black hole at the center of our Milky Way galaxy is a particularly poor eater.
- View Video Podcast (44.1 MB, Runtime: 1:32)
- With closed-captions (at YouTube)
- Listen to Audio Only
- Transcript
- Related Links:
-- Peering Into The Heart of Darkness
-- Tour of Sagittarius A*
NGC 6240 in 60 Seconds (10-07-2009)
NGC 6240 is a system in which two supermassive black holes are a mere 3,000 light years apart, virtually nothing in astronomical terms.
NGC 6240 is a system in which two supermassive black holes are a mere 3,000 light years apart, virtually nothing in astronomical terms.
- View Video Podcast (26.5 MB, Runtime: 1:59)
- With closed-captions (at YouTube)
- Listen to Audio Only
- Transcript
- Related Links:
-- Black Holes Go "Mano A Mano"
-- Tour of NGC 6240
GRS 1915 in 60 Seconds (06-25-2009)
We start with an optical and infrared image that shows the crowded area around the object known as GRS 1915+105, or GRS 1915 for short.
We start with an optical and infrared image that shows the crowded area around the object known as GRS 1915+105, or GRS 1915 for short.
- View Video Podcast (14.3 MB, Runtime: 1:27)
- With closed-captions (at YouTube)
- Listen to Audio Only
- Transcript
- Related Links:
-- Erratic Black Hole Regulates Itself
-- Tour of GRS 1915
M81 in 60 Seconds (08-21-2008)
This image of the mammoth spiral galaxy M81, located about 12 million light years away, contains data from four different NASA satellites.
This image of the mammoth spiral galaxy M81, located about 12 million light years away, contains data from four different NASA satellites.
- View Video Podcast (28 MB, Runtime: 1:06)
- With closed-captions (at YouTube)
- Listen to Audio Only
- Transcript
- Related Links:
-- Black Holes Have Simple Feeding Habits
-- Tour of M81
Just Two Numbers Is All You Need (06-02-2008)
Black holes sound wildly complicated. After all, there are all sorts of bizarre things going on: intense gravity, the warping of the fabric of space, the distortion of time itself. But when it comes to describing black holes, it comes down to just two numbers: the mass of the black hole and its spin.
Black holes sound wildly complicated. After all, there are all sorts of bizarre things going on: intense gravity, the warping of the fabric of space, the distortion of time itself. But when it comes to describing black holes, it comes down to just two numbers: the mass of the black hole and its spin.
- View Video Podcast (40.4 MB, Runtime: 5:47)
- With closed-captions (at YouTube)
- Listen to Audio Only
- Transcript
- Related Links:
-- M33 X-7
The Truth and Lies about Black Holes (11-30-2007)
Black holes have a bad reputation. After all, something that could swallow you completely sounds pretty scary. They're invisible, so maybe there's one just around the corner and we dont know it! Also, arent they enormous vacuum cleaners capable of destroying anything that gets near them? Once the black hole starts pulling on something, isnt that just a one-way ticket to oblivion? Well, not all of these things are exactly true.
Black holes have a bad reputation. After all, something that could swallow you completely sounds pretty scary. They're invisible, so maybe there's one just around the corner and we dont know it! Also, arent they enormous vacuum cleaners capable of destroying anything that gets near them? Once the black hole starts pulling on something, isnt that just a one-way ticket to oblivion? Well, not all of these things are exactly true.
- View Video Podcast (32.5 MB, Runtime: 5:00)
- With closed-captions (at YouTube)
- Listen to Audio Only
- Transcript
Black Holes: Tall, Grande, Venti (12-31-2006)
Long before astronomers found evidence that black holes existed, these exotic objects have captured imaginations. In the 21st century, scientists not only have proof that black holes are real, they continue to make startling discoveries both about individual black holes examples and about their populations across the Universe.
Long before astronomers found evidence that black holes existed, these exotic objects have captured imaginations. In the 21st century, scientists not only have proof that black holes are real, they continue to make startling discoveries both about individual black holes examples and about their populations across the Universe.
- View Video Podcast (24 MB, Runtime: 5:25)
- With closed-captions (at YouTube)
- Listen to Audio Only
- Transcript













