X-ray astronomy deals with measurements of the electromagnetic radiation in the energy range of E \~ 0.1 − 100 k e V ( λ \~ 0.12 − 120 \AA ) . The wavelength of X-ray is comparable to the size of atoms, so that the photons in the X-ray range are usually produced and absorbed by the atomic processes. Since the launch of the first X-ray astronomy satellite 'Uhuru' in 1970, technological advances in a launch capability and a detection capability make X-ray astronomy one of the most rapidly evolving fields of astronomical research. Particularly, a spectral resolving power E / Δ E has been increased by an order of 2 - 3 (in the energy range of 0.1 - 10 keV) during the past 30years. In this paper, I briefly review a developing process of the resolving power and spectroscopic techniques. Then I describe important emission/absorption lines in X-ray astronomy, as well as diagnostics of gas property with line parameters.

An x-ray astronomy experiment consisting of three collimated proportional counters and an X-ray Sky Monitor (XSM) was flown aboard the Indian Satellite IRS-P3 launched on March 21, 1996 from SHAR range in India. The Satellite is in a circular orbit of 830 km altitude with an orbital inclination of 98° and has three axis stabilized pointing capability. Each pointed-mode Proportional Counter (PPC) is a multilayer, multianode unit filled with P-10 gas (90% Ar + 10% CH4) at 800 torr and having an aluminized mylar window of 25 micron thickness. The three PPCs are identical and have a field of view of 2°×2° defined by silver coated aluminium honeycomb collimators. The total effective area of the three PPCs is about 1200 cm2. The PPCs are sensitive in 2-20 keV band. The XSM consists of a pin-hole of 1 cm2 area placed 16 cm above the anode plane of a 32 cm×32 cm position sensitive proportional counter sensitive in 3-8 keV interval. The position of the x-ray events is determined by charge division technique using nichrome wires as anodes. The principal objective of this experiment is to carry out timing studies of x-ray pulsars, x-ray binaries and other rapidly varying x-ray sources. The XSM will be used to detect transient x-ray sources and monitor intensity of bright x-ray binaries. Observations of black-hole binary Cyg X-1 and few other binary sources were carried out in early May and July-August 1996 period. Details of the x-ray detector characteristics are presented and preliminary results from the observations are discussed.