The projectile excitation of high-Z ions has been investigated in relativistic ion-atoms collisions by observing the subsequent x-ray emission. Within this experiment information about the population of the magnetic sublevels has been obtained via an angular differential study of the decay photons associated with the subsequent de-excitation process. In addition, we have observed for the first time the effect of electron-impact excitation in a heavy highly charged ion undergoing a collision with a neutral atom.