Chandra X-ray Observatory. Artwork of the Chandra X-ray Observatory (formerly known as AXAF) satell- ite, and a black hole. This telescope is named after the Indian-US astrophysicist Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar (1910-1995). It will be powered by the large solar panels (blue), which have a span of over 19 metres. The aperture of the telescope (lower left) is protected from glare from our Sun by a door. Chandra will study high-energy objects such as hot nebulae and black holes, and has 50 times the resolving power of current X-ray teles- copes. Its orbit will take it one third of the way to the Moon. It is due for launch in mid-1999.