The evolution of most galaxies takes place within the environment of a galaxygroup. The group potential retains gas left over from galaxy formation orejected from galaxies. XMM has the sensitivity to study this record of theinteraction between galaxies and their environments in unprecedented detail.We propose high quality observations of a sample of five groups which we havestudied with ROSAT. These systems cover a range of group and galaxy properties,and the detailed temperature and abundance maps we construct will permit astudy of the dynamical evolution of the groups and the chemical evolution oftheir galaxies. For example we will be able to correlate the contributions of
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2001-11-21T19:18:20Z/2002-06-02T14:15:23Z
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 Trevor Ponman, 2003, 'Hot gas in groups as a probe of galaxy evolution', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-rik2ogw
