1. Chandra Spacecraft Beauty Shot
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*Broadcast Quality

This artist's conception begins with the Chandra X-ray Observatory as it passes in front of the Moon. Chandra, one of NASA's "Great Observatories," does not orbit closely around the Earth. Instead, its highly elliptical orbit takes as far as one-third the distance to the Moon. Operating in space since 1999, Chandra detects and images X-ray sources that lie within our Solar System to those billions of light years away. The results from Chandra help explore high-energy phenomena and provide insights into the Universe's structure and evolution. View stills
[Runtime: 0:31]
(Animation: NASA/CXC/D.Berry)

High Definition files of Chandra Spacecraft Beauty Shot are now available by request

2. Chandra Spacecraft Animation
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In this artist's conception, the Chandra X-ray Observatory is seen in its orbit around the Earth. As one of NASA's "Great Observatories," Chandra can capture X-ray images and measure spectra of X-ray sources from multimillion-degree gases to learn more about black holes and other high-energy cosmic phenomena.
[Runtime: 0:39]
(Animation: NASA/NGST/CXC/A.Hobart)

About Chandra: Spacecraft & Instruments

3. DATA PATH
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Communication between the Chandra Observatory and the Chandra operations and control facility is via the deep space network.
[Runtime: 0:25]
(Animation: NASA/CXC / D.Berry) - View Still Photos

4. LIGHT PATH

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X-ray photons entering the telescope are reflected at grazing angles and focused onto an electronic detector to make an image of a cosmic source.
[Runtime: 0:22]
(Animation: NASA/CXC/D.Berry & A.Hobart) - View Still Photos

5. Chandra in Space

• Quick Time Movie (484 kb)

This animation shows a 360 degree shot of Chandra in space. (Animation: NGST)
[Runtime: 0:13]

6. NASA's Three Great Observatories

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The Chandra X-ray Observatory is one of NASA's "Great Observatories," along with the Hubble Space Telescope, the Spitzer Space Telescope, and the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (now de-orbited). Chandra gives astronomers the power to investigate X-rays across the universe. This animation shows a short segment of each of the three active Great Observatories (Chandra, Hubble, and Spitzer) as depicted in their orbits.
[Run Time: 0:37]
(Credit: Chandra: NASA/CXC/A.Hobart; Hubble: NASA/ESA/STScI/G.Bacon; Spitzer: NASA/JPL)