HD 5980 is a massive binary in the SMC which underwent a unique Luminous BlueVariable-type eruption in 1994. X-ray emission arises from the collision of the2 winds from the component stars, and possibly from interaction of the materialejected during the eruption with the ISM and/or stellar winds. XMM/EPICobservations will be used to characterize the wind speeds and to constrain themasses and radii of the stellar components, the total amount of material ejectedin the eruption, and the chemical composition of the stellar winds
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2001-11-20T23:36:11Z/2001-11-21T07:16:29Z
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, Dr Michael Corcoran, 2003, 'Colliding Wind X-ray Emission in the LBV Binary HD 5980', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-63qb81n
