The first X-rays from an astronomical source were detected by an X-ray telescope that was launched into space in 1962. The X-rays seemed to come from the direction of the constellation Scorpius, but astronomers could not pinpoint exactly where in the constellation the emission came from. The source was given the name Scorpius X-1 (meaning the most powerful X-ray source in the direction of Scorpius). Over time, better technology and careful observations showed that the X-rays were coming from an X-ray binary star system.