50 years of X-ray astronomy

Could jets of X-rays from black holes hold the key to the Earth's energy demands? Maybe not in the short term, but as scientists begin a sixth decade of studying stellar X-ray sources - the prospect of harnessing them may well be edging closer.

Take a look at how far knowledge and research into these violent cosmic X-ray emissions has come in 50 years - with celebrated UK space pioneer, Professor Ken Pounds from the University of Leicester.

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Click bottom right for image information. Images courtesy Nasa, Max Planck Institute, Science Photo Library, Ken Pounds/University of Leicester and Getty Images.

Music by Landscape and KPM Music. Slideshow production by Paul Kerley and Darren Baskill. Publication date 23 August 2012.

Related:

National Space Centre

University of Leicester

Nasa

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