Recent highlights in the X-ray study of blazars

Abstract

Blazars exhibit flux and spectral variations of largest amplitude at the highest frequencies. Therefore, monitoring their variability at X- and gamma-rays is the most effective tool to peer into the mighty powerhouse of these sources. High energy observations of the brightest blazars with the latest generation of satellites have allowed a detailed study of their behavior and have critically improved our understanding of the physics of blazar jets. I will review some of the recent results of blazar multiwavelength monitoring with emphasis on the X-ray campaigns accomplished with BeppoSAX and I will describe some of the future programs for blazar investigation from space, particularly with INTEGRAL.