NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory has released the complete and updated Chandra Source Catalogue (CSC 2.1), spanning 22 years of high-energy observations from 2000 to 2022. The massive dataset includes 407,806 distinct X-ray sources and more than 1.3 million individual detections. This publicly available treasure trove allows astronomers worldwide to cross-reference Chandra data with observations from Hubble, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), and other instruments, unlocking multi-wavelength insights into some of the universe’s most extreme objects and events.
A stunning new composite image of the Milky Way’s central region showcases the catalogue’s power. Covering roughly 60 light-years around Sagittarius A*—the supermassive black hole at our galaxy’s core—the mosaic combines 86 separate Chandra exposures totaling over 3 million seconds of observing time. It reveals more than 3,300 individual X-ray-emitting sources, from point-like stars and compact objects to diffuse clouds of hot gas. Researchers can now probe pulsar wind nebulae, past black hole outbursts, and other violent processes that have shaped the galactic center over millions of years.
In an innovative outreach effort, NASA has turned parts of the catalogue into sound through sonification. Each repeated X-ray detection from the same source is assigned a different musical note, transforming decades of data into an auditory “cosmic symphony.” This creative representation highlights variability in X-ray sources over time and makes the invisible universe more accessible to non-visual learners and the general public.
Also Read: Bengaluru CEO Lauds Blinkit for Doctor Call Before Late-Night Medicine Delivery
The Chandra Source Catalogue stands as one of the most comprehensive X-ray databases ever assembled, serving as a foundational resource for future discoveries in astrophysics. With its open access online, scientists can combine it with emerging data from next-generation telescopes to deepen our understanding of the high-energy universe.
Also Read: Trump Extends Warm Republic Day Wishes to India, Highlights Historic Bond