An Overview of the Performance and Scientific Results from theChandra X‐Ray Observatory

TheChandra X‐Ray Observatory(CXO), the X‐ray component of NASA’s Great Observatories, was launched on 1999 July 23 by the space shuttleColumbia. After satellite systems activation, the first X‐rays focused by the telescope were observed on 1999 August 12. Beginning with the initial observation it wa...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific 2002-01, Vol.114 (791), p.1-24
Main Authors: Weisskopf, M. C., Brinkman, B., Canizares, C., Garmire, G., Murray, S., Van Speybroeck, L. P.
Format: Article
Language:eng ; jpn
Subjects:
Black holes
Emission spectra
Galaxies
Imaging
Invited Review
Line spectra
Red shift
Resonance lines
Space based observatories
Spectroscopy
Supernova remnants
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Summary:TheChandra X‐Ray Observatory(CXO), the X‐ray component of NASA’s Great Observatories, was launched on 1999 July 23 by the space shuttleColumbia. After satellite systems activation, the first X‐rays focused by the telescope were observed on 1999 August 12. Beginning with the initial observation it was clear that the telescope had survived the launch environment and was operating as expected. Despite an initial surprise due to the discovery that the telescope was far more efficient for concentrating CCD‐damaging low‐energy protons than had been anticipated, the observatory is performing well and is returning superb scientific data. Together with other space observatories, most notablyXMM‐Newton, it is clear that we have entered a new era of discovery in high‐energy astrophysics.
ISSN:0004-6280
1538-3873
DOI:10.1086/338108