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The
discovery of the first known X-ray source
outside the solar system, Scorpius X-1. This
observation was made in 1962, with an Aerobee
rocket. X-ray background radiation was also
detected.
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Scorpius X-1 (artist’s
impression) is a binary system consisting of a
neutron star which pulls gas from its companion
star. The gas accelerates in the powerful
gravitational field and emits intense
X-rays.
Illustration by Z
Chamaeleontis by Dale Bryner, Dept. of Visual
Arts, Weber State University
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HOW DOES AN X-RAY TELESCOPE
WORK?
In an ordinary optical
telescope, lenses or mirrors are used to focus the
light and form an image. However, a normal mirror
will not reflect X-ray radiation, since it would pass
straight through the mirror! Reflection will occur
only if the X-rays graze the surface of a finely
polished metal surface. This principle is used in an
X-ray telescope, which is built from several nested
cylinders with a parabolic or hyperbolic
profile.
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The
Chandra X-ray telescope
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An
X-ray telescope
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