In AO1 we were awarded a 30 ks Priority A observation of the soft X-raytransient XTE J0421+560 in quiscence. Due to intervals of high particlebackground only 12 ks of good observing time was obtained. However, even withthis limited exposure it is clear that the observed spectrum is unlike anythingever seen in the X-ray sky before. The spectrum is totally dominated by a broademission feature at 6.9 keV which may have a narrow core. There may be a secondbroad Gaussian feature at 1.0 keV. There is no X-ray continuum present with anupper limit of <3% of the line flux. We propose a 60 ks XMM-Newton observationof XTE J0421+560 in order to provide a high quality spectrum which will allow usto study this unique object in detail.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2003-02-24T12:33:49Z/2003-02-25T05:50:45Z
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 Arvind Parmar, 2004, 'Line Dominated Quiescent X-ray Emission from the X-ray transient XTE J0421+560', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-gjhcaf5
