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The Chandra X-ray Observatory is changing our knowledge of the evolution of the universe, and producing educational materials to integrate this knowledge into the classroom. This workshop is dedicated to presenting the Chandra mission and the Chandra educational materials. These materials, aligned to National Science Standards and Benchmarks, will allow the participants to integrate the latest results from the Chandra X-ray Observatory into existing curricular, and use the image analysis software that will allow their students to research and investigate x-ray phenomena. Participants will increase their knowledge of high-energy astronomy, and learn to use the software imaging analysis tools to investigate x-ray phenomena, and learn how to access all resources available to incorporate x-ray astronomy into the classroom.
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| Copyright © Wright Center for Science Education |
The
Chandra X-ray Observatory, part of NASA's Structure and Evolution
of the Universe Forum, is the most sophisticated X-ray observatory
launched by NASA. Chandra is designed to observe X-rays from high-energy
regions of the universe, such as the remnants of supernovae explosions,
colliding galaxies, black holes, pulsars, quasars, and X-ray binary
stars. The spectacular results from the Chandra observational data
are
changing and reshaping our theories about the evolution of stars
and
galaxies. Each exciting new image shows glimpses of such exotic
phenomena as surprising black hole activity in old galaxies, rivers
of
gravity that define the cosmic landscape, unexpected x-ray activity
in
proto-stars and failed stars, puzzling distributions of elements
in
supernovae remnants, and the even the tantalizing possibility of
an
entirely new form of matter - the strange quark star. The technology
onboard the Chandra Observatory allows scientists to view, study,
and
examine the invisible x-ray universe from a 64-hour orbit that reaches
one third of the distance to the moon. This unprecedented accomplishment
has allowed Chandra to see the universe as it formed, watch doomed
matter falling into a black hole get a new lease on life, and discover
connections between supernovae and gamma-ray bursts.