This review will attempt to show that the new generation of astronomicalobservatories, both ground and space based, is revealing a wealth of newinformation and insights into previously impenetrable objects and areas. Bycombining several different types of observations (either timing and spectralor observations from different wavelength regimes), it is possible to gaindeeper understanding of the likely underlying physical and plasma processes.The new discipline of `astroplasma' or `astroparticle' physics seems set totake off. Indeed, with the new generation of intense laser sources it isbecoming possible to envisage realistic laboratory plasma physics experimentsthat could start to generate astrophysically interesting plasmas. It is alsonot inconceivable that astroplasma physics might be able to provide clues andin some cases answers to laboratory plasma physical processes.