Chandra X-ray Observatory. Artwork of the Chandra X-ray Observatory (formerly known as AXAF) satell- ite and supernova remnant 1987a (upper right). This telescope is named after the Indian-US astro- physicist Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar (1910-1995). It will be powered by the 19.5 metre wide solar panels (blue). The aperture (left) is protected from the glare of our Sun by a door. AXAF will look at high-energy objects such as supernova remnants and black holes, and will have 50 times the resolving power of current X-ray telescopes. Its orbit will take it one third of the way to the Moon. It is due for launch in mid-1999.