Chandra

/ˈtʃʌndrə/ proper noun

Definition

A Sanskrit name meaning 'moon' or 'shining.' Also refers to the Chandra X-ray Observatory space telescope.

Etymology

From Sanskrit chandra meaning 'moon, shining, luminous.' Related to the root chand- meaning 'to shine.' In Hindu mythology, Chandra is the lunar deity. The space telescope was named to honor Nobel laureate Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar.

Kelly Says

The Chandra X-ray Observatory perfectly embodies its name - studying the most luminous and energetic phenomena in the universe, just as its Sanskrit root means 'shining.' It's poetic that an instrument detecting invisible X-rays from cosmic sources bears the name of the moon, our most visible celestial light!

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