The Chandra X-ray Observatory is a satellite launched by NASA in 1999 to study the Universe in X-ray wavelengths. It is named after the Nobel Prize-winning astrophysicist Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar.
Chandra primarily collects data in the X-ray portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, which is invisible to the human eye. It also collects data in ultraviolet and near-infrared wavelengths.
Chandra is designed specifically for X-ray astronomy and has the largest X-ray telescope ever flown in space. It also has a high-resolution camera that can capture detailed images of X-ray sources.
Chandra uses a system of mirrors to focus and reflect X-rays onto its detectors rather than using lenses like optical telescopes. The detectors then convert the X-rays into electronic signals that can be analyzed by scientists.
Chandra has made numerous groundbreaking discoveries, including the first direct evidence for a supermassive black hole, the first detection of X-rays from a planet outside our solar system, and the first images of the shock waves from a supernova explosion. It has also provided insights into the nature of dark matter and dark energy.