Einstein Observatory. Artist's impression of the Einstein X-ray observatory in orbit. The spacecraft is at upper right, with a cut-away view showing t

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Einstein Observatory. Artist's impression of the Einstein X-ray observatory in orbit. The spacecraft is at upper right, with a cut-away view showing the position of its lens (blue barrel) and its instruments (orange and green boxes). Below is a diagram of the grazing incidence lens used by the Einstein Observatory. The X-rays strike the inner surface of nested tapering metal rings at a very shallow angle, and so are gently reflected toward the focus. This design was the basis for the lenses used on subsequent orbiting X-ray telescopes. Einstein was launched on 13 November 1978, and was operational until April 1981.

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Size: 5130px × 3490px
Photo credit: © DAVID PARKER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: -ray, astronomical, astronomy, astrophysics, einstein, grazing, heao-2, incidence, observatory, satellite, telescope, xray