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• x-ray astronomy
  x-ray astronomy

  noun

  the branch of astronomy that studies celestial objects by means of the x-rays emitted by them.
• X-ray astronomy
  X-ray astronomy

  noun

  the branch of astronomy concerned with the detection and measurement of X-rays emitted by certain celestial bodies. As X-rays are absorbed by the atmosphere, satellites and rockets are used

x-ray astronomy

American  

noun

1. the branch of astronomy that studies celestial objects by means of the x-rays emitted by them.

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X-ray astronomy British  

noun

1. the branch of astronomy concerned with the detection and measurement of X-rays emitted by certain celestial bodies. As X-rays are absorbed by the atmosphere, satellites and rockets are used

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x-ray astronomy Scientific  

1. The study of celestial objects by measurement of the x-rays they emit. Because the Earth's atmosphere absorbs x-rays, x-ray detectors are usually carried into space on satellites. X-rays are emitted by high-energy objects such as active galactic nuclei, supernova remnants, x-ray binary stars, neutron stars, and the regions around black holes. Objects which do not produce their own x-rays can reflect radiation from nearby stars, making it possible to study the objects using x-ray astronomy; one notable example of this is the analysis of solar x-rays reflected by the Moon.

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Other Word Forms

• x-ray astronomer
  noun

Etymology

Origin of x-ray astronomy

First recorded in 1960–65

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

x-ray astronomy X-ray astronomy

The fourth concept, the Lynx X-ray Observatory, would be the most powerful x-ray astronomy facility ever built, offering intimate views of black holes, active galaxies and violent supernovae across cosmic time.

From Scientific American ● Aug. 18, 2021

Isaacman wrote that reducing Chandra’s funding would amount to “ceding U.S. industrial leadership” and “a death spiral for X-ray astronomy in the United States.”

From Science Magazine ● Dec. 4, 2024

The mission builds on the work done by the Chandra X-ray Observatory, NASA’s flagship X-ray astronomy mission, which launched in 1999 and has imaged the remnants of exploded stars, discovered black holes, and more.

From The Verge ● Dec. 9, 2021

In March, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s flagship Hitomi X-ray astronomy satellite failed just weeks after launch.

From Nature ● Dec. 15, 2016

At M.I.T., he first joined a group doing plasma physics , then dabbled in X-ray astronomy and biophysics before joining a radio astronomy group.

From New York Times ● Jun. 8, 2015

Most notably, she oversaw the development and launch of Uhuru, the world’s first X-ray astronomy satellite.

From Washington Post ● May 7, 2015