Wakes generated as galaxies move through hot intracluster gas are important intheir own right, since stripping and accretion can have profound effects ongalaxy evolution. Wakes also provide valuable diagnostics of galaxy propertiesand cluster dynamics. Previous X-ray observatories have been able to study onlya small number of especially bright and nearby galaxy wakes. With XMM,simulations show that we have the possibility of imaging a whole sample of wakeswithin a single cluster of suitably chosen temperature. We propose to usesuch a sample of wakes as weather vanes, to map the gas flows which arepredicted to occur during cluster mergers, by observing the nearby Herculescluster, which is ideal for this purpose.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2003-03-10T21:15:03Z/2003-08-11T12:04:15Z
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 Trevor Ponman, 2004, 'Galaxy Wakes as Probes of Cluster Merger Dynamics', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-5ntz5af
