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By Length
- Full Feature (4-12 min)
- Short Feature (1-4 min)
When Will History Repeat Itself?
Astronomers think that a supernova should go off in our own Milky Way galaxy every 50 years or so. When was the last one we've seen? Probably 1604. Yes, that's over 400 years ago. This being astronomy however, things will undoubtedly average out over the long run, but in the meantime, we're left without a recent supernova in our Galaxy to study. Luckily for us, astronomers from previous centuries were on the case.
- Related Links:
-- Blasts From The Past: Historic Supernovas
Astronomers think that a supernova should go off in our own Milky Way galaxy every 50 years or so. When was the last one we've seen? Probably 1604. Yes, that's over 400 years ago. This being astronomy however, things will undoubtedly average out over the long run, but in the meantime, we're left without a recent supernova in our Galaxy to study. Luckily for us, astronomers from previous centuries were on the case.
- Related Links:
-- Blasts From The Past: Historic Supernovas
In A Galaxy Far, Far Away and Also Those Nearby
"In a galaxy far, far away..." These are some of the most famous words in movie history. But what do we already know about galaxies, and what do astronomers, like those using the Chandra X- ray Observatory, still hope to learn about them?
- Related Links:
-- Normal Galaxies & Starburst Galaxies
-- Whirlpool Galaxy (M51): A Classic Beauty
-- Tour of M51
"In a galaxy far, far away..." These are some of the most famous words in movie history. But what do we already know about galaxies, and what do astronomers, like those using the Chandra X- ray Observatory, still hope to learn about them?
- Related Links:
-- Normal Galaxies & Starburst Galaxies
-- Whirlpool Galaxy (M51): A Classic Beauty
-- Tour of M51
From First Light to Eighth Anniversary
Chandra's launch aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia on July 23, 1999, was obviously a very important event. However, you might say it wasn't until about a month later that the Chandra mission really got started. In late August, after weeks of getting the spacecraft into the correct orbit and testing out various aspects of the satellite, Chandra was ready for its debut to the public. This was Chandra's First Light. Chandra's director, Dr. Harvey Tananbaum, explains the significance of that early image.
- Related Links:
-- Cassiopeia A
Chandra's launch aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia on July 23, 1999, was obviously a very important event. However, you might say it wasn't until about a month later that the Chandra mission really got started. In late August, after weeks of getting the spacecraft into the correct orbit and testing out various aspects of the satellite, Chandra was ready for its debut to the public. This was Chandra's First Light. Chandra's director, Dr. Harvey Tananbaum, explains the significance of that early image.
- Related Links:
-- Cassiopeia A
How It All Started
Just after midnight on July 23, 1999, the Space Shuttle Columbia launched in orbit with the heaviest payload ever carried by a shuttle. Its precious cargo was the Chandra X-ray Observatory, which has helped revolutionize our understanding of the Universe.
- Related Links:
-- STS-93 - Chandra Deployment Mission
Just after midnight on July 23, 1999, the Space Shuttle Columbia launched in orbit with the heaviest payload ever carried by a shuttle. Its precious cargo was the Chandra X-ray Observatory, which has helped revolutionize our understanding of the Universe.
- Related Links:
-- STS-93 - Chandra Deployment Mission
Mergers And Acquisitions In The Cosmos
News about mergers is usually found in the business section. But many objects in the Universe, from black holes to clusters of galaxies, are also prone to mergers. Like the corporate world, cosmic mergers are dictated by where the most assets lie.
- Related Links:
-- Andromeda Galaxy (M31)
News about mergers is usually found in the business section. But many objects in the Universe, from black holes to clusters of galaxies, are also prone to mergers. Like the corporate world, cosmic mergers are dictated by where the most assets lie.
- Related Links:
-- Andromeda Galaxy (M31)
Please note: These podcasts include artist illustrations and conceptual animations in addition to astronomical data.