September 21, 2001

X-Ray Eyes: Orbiting Telescope Helps Scientists Probe Some of the Darkest Objects in the Universe

By RICHARD MONASTERSKY

At an anniversary party here this month, hundreds of people gathered to celebrate a love affair that has blossomed over the past two years. It's the ultimate in long-distance romances, spanning some 6,000 miles. In this case, though, the vast gulf is a necessary part of the relationship: One of the participants is a giant telescope orbiting Earth.

Since 1999, astronomers and astrophysicists have been falling head-over-heels for the 45-foot-long telescope, known officially as NASA's