The Mixed Morphology remnants are a newly identified SNR class, with radioshells and centrally filled thermal X-ray emission. Most of their attributes,except for their X-ray emission can be explained by the explosion of a massive,windless star inside a molecular cloud. X-ray emission arises either fromevaporation of shocked clouds or interior gas reheated by thermal conduction. Wepropose a 30ks EPIC observation of 3C 391, a prototypical MM SNR, to performplasma diagnostics and detailed spectral mapping. 3C 391.s ASCA spectrum showsevidence of a recombining, as contrasted to an ionizing, plasma, indicating thepresence of dynamically old gas. EPIC spectroscopic confirmation will resolvethe issue of the X-ray emission from MM SNR.s.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2003-03-21T14:08:48Z/2003-04-18T18:58:02Z
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 Robert Petre, 2004, '3C 391: A Key to the Mixed Morphology SNR Mystery', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-if14dsd
