Röntgenastronomia

Röntgenastronomia, also known as X-ray astronomy, is a branch of astronomy that studies celestial objects using X-ray radiation. Unlike visible light, X-rays have much higher energies and shorter wavelengths, allowing them to penetrate interstellar dust and gas that would otherwise obscure our view. This makes X-ray astronomy crucial for observing phenomena that occur at extremely high temperatures or involve very energetic processes.

Sources of X-rays in space are diverse. These include hot gas in galaxy clusters, the remnants of supernova explosions, active galactic nuclei powered by supermassive black holes, and compact objects like neutron stars and black holes that are accreting matter. The study of these sources helps us understand the lifecycle of stars, the evolution of galaxies, and the nature of extreme physical environments.

Observing X-rays from Earth's surface is impossible because the Earth's atmosphere absorbs most of this radiation. Therefore, X-ray astronomy relies entirely on space-based telescopes equipped with specialized detectors. These telescopes must be shielded to prevent stray X-rays from interfering with measurements. The development of X-ray telescopes has been a significant technological achievement, enabling detailed observations of the universe in this high-energy part of the electromagnetic spectrum. Missions like Chandra, XMM-Newton, and NuSTAR have been instrumental in advancing our understanding of the X-ray universe.