NASA Shares stunning images created by combining data from the Hubble space telescope, the Chandra X-Ray Observatory
NASA shared a trio of images from space on social media, highlighting the collaboration between their two observatories. The collaboration shows what kind of images can be produced when you look at the same object at two wavelengths of light. NASA says these images were created by combining data from the Hubble Space Telescope, in space, and the Chandra X-Ray Observatory on the ground. The results are absolutely amazing. “Through combining data from telescopes that can detect different types of light, we can fully investigate cosmic phenomena,” the agency said.
It explained how the image was created by combining two separate data sets. NASA said the universe emits light and energy in many forms, and that Chandra X-Ray’s observations allowed them to explore superheated and energetic processes throughout the universe.
The first image in the Instagram post is of R Aquarii. This is in fact a pair of steadily burning white dwarfs and a highly variable red giant orbiting each other. The white dwarf pulls material from the red giant to its surface. When enough matter accumulates, it will cause an explosion. The data captured by Hubble is shown in this image as red and blue, while the Chandra X-Ray data is shown in purple.
The second image has the Guitar Nebula and a stream of X-rays (pink) shot from a pulsar, roughly perpendicular to the nebula. The Guitar Nebula is so named because of its shape in optical light (blue, or appearing like a hollow guitar).
The third galaxy has galaxies that merged after a collision between the spiral galaxy and the smaller galaxy. This gravitational interaction can generate waves of star formation. Chandra’s X-Ray data (in purple) combined with optical images from Hubble Space Telescope (red, green and blue).
Given the complex process in which data sets from two observatories are combined and the astonishing results they yield, NASA rightly captioned the post, “By our power combined…”
What can you say about this?
