An overview of the Chandra mission and goals, Chandra's namesake, top 10 facts.
Classroom activities, printable materials, interactive games & more.
Overview of X-ray Astronomy and X-ray sources: black holes to galaxy clusters.
All Chandra images released to the public listed by date & by category
Current Chandra press releases, status reports, interviews & biographies.
A collection of multimedia, illustrations & animations, a glossary, FAQ & more.
A collection of illustrations, animations and video.
Chandra discoveries in an audio/video format.
Return to Main Site

Disclaimer: This material is being kept online for historical purposes. Though accurate at the time of publication, it is no longer being updated. The page may contain broken links or outdated information, and parts may not function in current web browsers. Visit chandra.si.edu for current information.

CCD Camera Check Continues

July 29, 1999 ::

Schematic Diagram of Chandra
Labelled Diagram of Chandra
Sketch: CXC/NGST
One of the primary scientific instruments that the Chandra Observatory will use to make X-ray images, continues to check out well. The Advanced CCD Imaging Spectrometer, (ACIS) is an array of charged coupled devices (CCD's) similar to those used in a camcorder.

"ACIS ...was turned on...to check its calibrations and to verify that it survived the launch," reported Gordon Garmire, of Penn State University on July 27. Garmire is the principal investigator for ACIS.

View of ACIS as seen by HRMA
View of ACIS as seen by HRMA
Paul Plucinsky of the Chandra Science Operations Team exulted, "We had a GREAT night. We turned on the CCDs for the first time and all is well!!!!!!"

ACIS will be an especially useful instrument because it can simultaneously make X-ray images and measure the energies of incoming x rays. It will be the instrument of choice for studying temperature variations across X-ray sources, such as the remnants of exploded stars.

Further checks of the CCD camera will continue in preparation for opening the ACIS door sometime next week.


Subscribe to the Chandra Chronicles
Receive updates by email GO
Info & Privacy Policy.
Chronicles Archives
Articles from:
['15 | '14 | '13 | '12 | '11 | '10 | '09 | '08 |
'07 | '06 | '05 | '04 | '03 | '02 | '01 | '00 |
'99]
Recent Articles
Where is Chandra Now? Globe
RSS Feed RSS Feed
Chandra Twitter Updates
    Follow Chandra on Twitter

    Disclaimer: This material is being kept online for historical purposes. Though accurate at the time of publication, it is no longer being updated. The page may contain broken links or outdated information, and parts may not function in current web browsers. Visit chandra.si.edu for current information.

    Return to Main Site

    Help | Site Map | Image Use Polcy | Privacy | Accessibility | Downloads & Plugins | Glossary | Q & A

    Contact us: cxcpub@cfa.harvard.edu
    Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
    60 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 USA
    Phone: 617.496.7941 Fax: 617.495.7356
    Chandra X-ray Center, Operated for NASA by
    the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory
    This site was developed with funding from NASA under contract NAS8-03060.
    NASASmithsonianChandra X-Ray Center
    Subscribe