How do x-rays help determine a celestial body's temperature?

Question

Anna Armstrong · Accepted Answer

X-rays by themselves do not, the entire light spectrum does.

A body that emits light has a direct relationship between its temperature and the amount of heat it emits; cold objects emit more light at long wavelengths, and hot objects emit more light at short wavelengths. Since wavelengths and energy are known to be inversely correlated, objects that are heated will release more energy with shorter wavelengths. Cold objects, on the other hand, have longer wavelengths but less energy.

Emilia Acosta · Answer

undefined X-rays can help determine a celestial body's temperature by observing the intensity and distribution of the X-ray emissions. The temperature of a celestial body affects the energy of the X-rays it emits, with hotter objects emitting higher-energy X-rays. By analyzing the X-ray spectrum and intensity, astronomers can infer the temperature of the emitting source. Additionally, X-ray observations can reveal the presence of high-energy processes such as accretion onto compact objects or energetic events like supernova explosions, which are associated with high temperatures.