Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Hi,
I was working on the X-ray-vision-seeing-into-space project provided in science buddies. Here is the link to the project:
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... ce#summary

For my project, I am creating a program that can generate a false color image. Currently I plan to have the program input variables be the fits file containing the various images of the galaxy, along with the associated wavelength that the image corresponds to.

While looking into making this project more involved, I tried finding out how to figure which chemical elements are available in a galaxy that we are observing, but was unable to find a software that can do so. From my current understanding for finding elements, I believe that i would also need the user to provide the spectra file as an input. If someone can help direct me to a way to a method to find the elemental composition of galaxies that can be implemented via a computer, it would really be appreciated.

P.S. Please feel free to ask more questions about my project description, if the current description is not sufficiently descriptive.

Hi Aksh,
For this particular experiment, I believe you can retrieve FITS files for different galaxies directly from the Chandra site.
http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/openFI ... _data.html

I hope this is what you are looking for. Please post again if there's anything else we can do to help!
Good Luck!
Willey

Thanks for the reply,
I am still confused about how we could use this data to predict which elements are available in a galaxy, as suggested in the make it your own part in science buddies. I believe we would require a spectra analysis software, and was wondering if there is one that does so. Please suggest if you know of anything I may use to do so.

Hi,
I found this software online that looked promising for what you are trying to do:
http://maud.radiographema.eu/

(The search term I used in Google was "xrd analysis software")
I am sorry to say that I haven't tried this software yet and would be very interested in finding out how it works.
Thanks!
Willey