The proximity, X-ray luminosity, and presence of both a central cooling flow andsubcluster mergers allow many fundamental questions concerning clusters to beaddressed by XMM observations of the Perseus cluster. Although Perseus, as thebrightest X-ray cluster, has been studied by virtually all X-ray missions sinceUhuru, and will be observed by Chandra as well, XMM.s large area offers uniqueopportunities to investigate mass deposition in the cooling region, the mutualinfluence of the radio halo and hot cluster gas, the distribution of heavyelements in the ICM, and the amount of cold gasaccumulated in the cooling flowregion in the form of molecular clouds.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2001-01-30T11:47:15Z/2001-01-31T07:48:14Z
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 Eugene Churazov, 2002, 'Spectroscopy of the Perseus Cluster', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-y2j1ibu
