X-ray Telescopes

An x-ray image of the sun reveals more about the corona.

Light comes at many different wavelengths and energies. The light we see represents light with wavelength from about 400 to 700 nanometers. Infrared light and radiowaves have longer wavelengths (and thus carry less energy) than visible light, while UV rays and x-rays and gamma rays have shorter wavelengths (and carry higher energy). Even though we can only see the visible spectrum, we can build instruments that detect the other sorts of light. Radios pick up radio waves and x-ray imaging at the doctor’s office detects where x-ray light has been allowed to pass through the body.

In astronomy looking at the different wavelengths of light can tell us more about the Universe. For this reasons different sorts of telescopes have been designed. Visible light telescopes are considered normal telescopes, but there are also radiowave telescopes, infrared telescopes, ultraviolet telescopes, x-ray telescopes, and gamma ray telescopes. To observe the different lights the telescopes have to be built in a certain way and sometimes put in a certain location. Since gamma rays, x rays, and infrared light do not penetrate our atmosphere to the surface, telescopes observing these types of light must be launched into high in the sky or into outerspace.

X-ray light is hard to catch. Normal mirrors do not reflect x-ray light, rather the high-energy light simply penetrates the mirror. However, if the mirror is placed at an angle to the light the light will reflect. Many people compare this to shooting a bullet. If you shoot a bullet directly at a metal sheet, the bullet is just going to dent the sheet. But if you just let the bullet graze the sheet, the bullet will reflect off the sheet. So called grazing incidence mirrors focus the x-ray light so that an image can be constructed. This is part of what makes x-ray telescopes different from other telescopes. Many telescopes varying in mission and construction have been sent into space built on this concept.

The incline of the mirror allows the x-rays to be reflected and focused.

XRTs (x-ray telescopes) have allowed us to observe phenomena we otherwise would not have known about or understood as well. The first x-ray telescopes were used to observe the sun. We have also been able to observe the heat distribution between galaxies, detect neutron stars and black holes, and examine supernova remnant expansion.

Thinking about History: Tycho Brahe

Life: Tycho Brahe was born 19 February (10 days from now!) 1473 and died 24 May 1543.

Contributions to Astronomy: He greatly improved  astronomical measurements. As well as making very precise observations himself, he introduced methods and instruments which universally made  measurements more accurate. Also, he observed objects in the sky at various points in their orbits. These measurements later allowed Kepler to verify the idea that planets move in elliptical orbits.

During his Lifetime: In 1584 the first English colony was established in Virginia by Sir Walter Raleigh. Later a scion of this settlement would become known as the Lost Colony.

In 1588 the Spanish Armada was defeated by England. The Spanish Armada was before considered to be invincible.

William Shakespeare lived from about 1564 to 1616.  He greatly contributed to literature by the plays he wrote.

Some Reflection: People in the past and the present build upon the work of people who came before them.  Brahe enabled Kepler to advance astronomy, the Raleigh colony contributed to the formation of the United States, and Shakespeare has greatly contributed to literature. What we know and do now is because of observations and thoughts made by the people before us.