X-ray Telescope

X-RAY TELESCOPE:

     X-rays are absorbed by Earth's atmosphere, so one has to climb above the atmosphere to see them. National Aeronautics Space Administration (NASA's) Uhuru 1970 and the United Kingdom's Ariel V 1974 were spin-stabilized satellites that discovered around 400 bright X-ray sources. Astronomers realized that X-rays provide vital clues to the death throws of stars, specifically supernova explosions and the final transitions to white dwarf, neutron star and black hole states. X-rays are a vital component of the radiation coming from energetic events such as solar flares.

FIRST X-RAY TELESCOPE:

     Two technical advances helped the development of space telescopes. One was the construction of advanced confocal mirror systems and the other was the development of two dimensional X-ray imaging gas scintillation proportional counters. Using these, these United States launched the first orbiting satellite containing a fully imaging X-ray Telescope, the High Energy Astrophysical Observatory-2 (HEAO-2), in November 1978.

HIGH ENERGY ASTROPHYSICAL OBSERVATORY-2

     HEAO-2 was renamed Einstein when it was in orbit and operating correctly. Einstein discovered that nearly all astronomical bodies emit X-rays. Also the angular resolution (few seconds of arc) and the sensitivity was such that accurate maps could be made of objects such as Cygnus loop supernova remnant. The Einstein instruments were a thousand times more sensitive than those on Uhuru.

OTHER X-RAY TELESCOPES:

 

     Einstein remained operational until April 1981. Other space telescopes have followed, such as Exosat, Rosat, Chandra and XXM Newton, and all have continued the quest for ever higher detail and sensitivity. In addition to new sources being discovered, it has been found that many X-rays are being emitted as material falls into the black holes at the center of active galactic nuclei.

QUOTES:

" For NASA, space is still a high priority....If we don't succeed we run the risk of failure"

                                                                                               -Dan Quayle, U.S vice-president.

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