APM 08279+5255 is an exceptionally luminous BAL QSO, andalthough significantly lensed may be the most luminousobject known in the Universe. Despite its bright infrared and opticalmagnitude it has not been seen in the ROSAT All-Sky survey,indicating a substantial amount of intrinsic absorption at the source rest frame. Here we propose 15 ksec EPIC observationsin order to determine the column density, redshift andiron abundance of the absorber. This object may be an important missing link in our understanding of the X-ray background.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2001-10-30T02:44:10Z/2002-04-29T21:35:51Z
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 Guenther Hasinger, 2002, 'XMM EPIC Spectroscopy of the z=3.9 BAL QSO APM 08279+5255', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-j9o341q
