Keith Arnaud is at the Center for Research Excellence in Space Science and Technology, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, and is an Associate Research Scientist in the Astronomy Department, University of Maryland. A veteran of x-ray astronomy, he is recognized world-wide as an expert on data analysis techniques. Randall Smith is an astrophysicist in the High Energy Astrophysics Division of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. He is internationally known for his work on spectral emission from astrophysical plasmas and the underlying issues of atomic physics. Aneta Siemiginowska is an astrophysicist in the High Energy Astrophysics Division of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. She has worked in both theoretical and observational aspects of x-ray astronomy with interests in extra galactic radio sources, quasars, powerful jets and statistical methods.

'… this is an excellent, good-value book and should be required reading for all those interested in X-ray astronomy.' The Observatory

• 1. X-ray astronomy optics Daniel A. Schwartz; 2. Proportional counters and other detector techniques Richard J. Edgar; 3. CCDs for x-ray astronomy Catherine E. Grant; 4. Data reduction and calibration Keith A. Arnaud and Randall K. Smith; 5. Data analysis Randall K. Smith, Keith A. Arnaud and Aneta Siemiginowska; 6. Archives, surveys, catalogues and software Keith Arnaud; 7. Statistics Aneta Siemiginowska; 8. Analysis of extended emission K. D. Kuntz; Appendices; Index.