X-RAY ASTRONOMY 2009: PRESENT STATUS, MULTI-WAVELENGTH APPROACH AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES - SEPTEMBER 7-11, 2009 - AULA ABSIDALE DI SANTA LUCIA, BOLOGNA, ITALY home -  conference aims -  proceedings -  accommodation -  programme -  circulars -  general info -  about Bologna -  participants

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X-ray astronomy is a mature science, its birth dates back in 1962 when the first cosmic source (Sco X-1), and the cosmic X-ray background were discovered by Riccardo Giacconi and collaborators. Since the first rocket flight, a large number of satellites dedicated to the observation of the X-ray sky allowed us to inflate the discovery space. Nowadays, many thousands of X-ray sources are known, from nearby stars and compact objects in our Galaxy to the most distant quasars powered by supermassive black holes, and galaxy clusters, the largest gravitationally bound objects in the Universe. It also appears that the intergalactic space is filled by hot, teneous gas where the majority of baryonic matter is locked.

In the last decade a major step forward in our understanding of the physics and the cosmological evolution of X-ray sources, was made thanks to the ESA and NASA cornerstone missions (XMM-Newton and Chandra), the Japanese satellite Suzaku, the ESA-INTEGRAL and NASA-Swift and RossiXTE satellites. Many if not all of the scientific programs based on the X-ray observations of the above mentioned and previous satellites are usually complemented by observations taken over the entire electromagnetic spectrum. A multiwavelength approach is by now essential to address the most pressing scientific questions arising from X-ray observations and to test theoretical models.

We feel that after so many years, in particular the last decade, of successful observations and almost continuous data flow it is time to discuss the most important achievements obtained in the X-ray domain and put them in a multiwavelength context. We expect presentations summarizing the most relevant breaktrough from XMM, Chandra and associated multiwavelength programs as well as from Suzaku, RossiXTE, INTEGRAL and Swift. We also intend to stimulate discussion on the future directions of X-ray astronomy in the next decade, and in particular about the role of future X-ray missions with respect to the present and future facilities both ground based (ALMA, SKA, LOFAR, ELT) and space based (Herschel, JWST, Fermi-GLAST).

The main scientific issues which shall be addressed are:

• STARS AND SUPERNOVA REMNANTS
• INTERACTING BINARIES
• GALAXY SURVEYS
• ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEI
• X-RAY AND MULTIWAVELENGTH SURVEYS
• CLUSTERS OF GALAXIES
• PRESENT and FUTURE MISSIONS