NASA has released nine new images captured by its Chandra X-ray Observatory, showcasing the hidden beauty of space in X-ray light. The telescope’s capabilities allow scientists to study various cosmic phenomena that are invisible across other wavelengths.
The collection features a diverse range of objects, including galaxies, clusters, and multi-galaxy systems. One notable image shows N79, a star-forming region in the Large Magellanic Cloud, where Chandra detects hot gas created by young stars. This provides key insights into star formation and how our Sun formed.
Other images highlight spiral galaxies like NGC 2146, IC 348, M83, and M82, which exhibit unique characteristics such as dusty arms, supernovae explosions, and high rates of star formation. Chandra’s X-ray data also reveals wind-driven phenomena from supermassive black holes at the center of galaxies.
The telescope has detected thousands of newborn stars in clusters like IC 1623 and Westerlund 1, often referred to as “galactic factories.” These findings highlight the importance of Chandra’s X-ray imaging capabilities in understanding various cosmic processes.
With its unique capabilities, Chandra is essential for studying high-energy events throughout the universe. However, the telescope faces a threat due to federal budget cuts at NASA, which could have devastating consequences for astronomy and astrophysics research.
Source: https://petapixel.com/2025/07/29/9-never-before-seen-x-ray-photos-reveal-the-hidden-beauty-of-space