X-ray telescope

An X-ray telescope (XRT) is a <a href="/facts/Telescope/BDwYahhR">telescope</a> that is designed to observe remote objects in the <a href="/facts/X-ray/wseP79cN">X-ray</a> spectrum. X-rays are absorbed by the <a href="/facts/Earth%27s_atmosphere/FV97Am25">Earth's atmosphere</a>, so instruments to detect X-rays must be taken to high altitude by <a href="/facts/Balloon/o9JQ2ykA">balloons</a>, <a href="/facts/Sounding_rocket/em1GgGND">sounding rockets</a>, and <a href="/facts/Satellite/PTX8c68t">satellites</a>.
The basic elements of the telescope are the <a href="/facts/Optics/p0vq4S1T">optics</a> (focusing or <a href="/facts/Collimating/lhd2hhPt">collimating</a>), that collects the <a href="/facts/Radiation/RwMocyeq">radiation</a> entering the telescope, and the <a href="/facts/X-ray_detector/gaU0yhyy">detector</a>, on which the radiation is collected and measured. A variety of different designs and technologies have been used for these elements.
Many X-ray telescopes on satellites are compounded of multiple small detector-telescope systems whose capabilities add up or complement each other, and additional fixed or removable elements (filters, spectrometers) that add functionalities to the instrument.

X-ray telescope open-in-new

X-ray telescope