X-ray astronomy began when astronomers created crude sun spot images in 1963. Telescopes bounce X-ray photons off huge, mega-precise, curved mirrors and deflectors from and into space since the earth's atmosphere absorbs them. NASA's latest X-ray observatory, Chandra, can observe X-rays from immense clouds of gas so large that it would take light 5 million years to reach from one end to the other.
Nondestructive inspection (NDI) examines industrial material for defects than can affect its future use. X-ray radiography films a finished product or component so that engineers and other quality control personnel can see imperfections that won't pass inspection. Welders use X-ray technology to inspect tightly welded seams that appear perfect for bubbles and other anomalies.
The diffraction of X-rays through crystals causes distinct atomic patterns to emerge that can be used to determine molecular structure. Crystals used must be free from imperfection and between 0.1 nm to 0.5 mm. Growing crystals in labs is time-consuming. X-ray diffraction through those perfect crystals can determine not only molecular structure, but distance between atoms in units of measurement called Angstroms.