The nature of the persistent, high-energy gamma-ray sources in the Galacticplane remains a mystery. The most likely scenario is a population of middle-agedpulsars, many of which might be radio quiet like Geminga. We have an ongoingprogram of X-ray, radio, and optical observations of selected EGRET errorcircles at intermediate Galactic latitude. For one of these fields, at(l,b)=(106,+3), our complete census of X-ray and radio sources reveals aremarkable association between a radio shell with unique properties, and a compact X-ray source. It may be a pulsar with a wind-blown nebula. An XMM observation will determine whether or not this source has a hard X-ray spectrumlike that of other gamma-ray pulsars, and can determine its pulse period, .
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2002-06-15T07:31:48Z/2002-06-15T17:47:49Z
Version
17.56_20190403_1200
Mission Description
The European Space Agencys (ESA) X-ray Multi-Mirror Mission (XMM-Newton) was launched by an Ariane 504 on December 10th 1999. XMM-Newton is ESAs second cornerstone of the Horizon 2000 Science Programme. It carries 3 high throughput X-ray telescopes with an unprecedented effective area, and an optical monitor, the first flown on a X-ray observatory. The large collecting area and ability to make long uninterrupted exposures provide highly sensitive observations. Since Earths atmosphere blocks out all X-rays, only a telescope in space can detect and study celestial X-ray sources. The XMM-Newton mission is helping scientists to solve a number of cosmic mysteries, ranging from the enigmatic black holes to the origins of the Universe itself. Observing time on XMM-Newton is being made available to the scientific community, applying for observational periods on a competitive basis.
European Space Agency, Prof Jules Halpern, 2003, 'A Possible Identification for the EGRET Source 2EG 2227+6122', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-3d5bk75
