The x-ray universe

This book is a selective and personal history of X-ray astronomy. The X-ray universe is considered along with the sensible world, historical aspects regarding the discovery and utilization of X-rays, the pioneers of X-ray astronomy, the discovery of an X-ray star, the riddle of the X-ray stars, developments leading to the Uhuru (X-ray Explorer) satellite and the study of neutron stars and black holes, the X-ray sky, a telescope for X-rays, the Einstein observatory (HEAO-2), stellar coronas and supernovas, active galaxies and quasars, clusters of galaxies and the missing mass, and the cosmic X-ray background. Attention is also given to NASA's Advanced X-Ray Astrophysics Facility, which will open a permanent window on the X-ray universe.