A brief 8 ksec observation of the bright Seyfert 1 1H 0419-577 early in the XMMmission showed the source to be a considerably brighter state (by a factor of10) than 4 years earlier. Our first aim is to employ the full spectroscopiccapability of XMM-Newton, in a repeated and longer (50 ksec) observation. Pastobservations of 1H 0419 show it to be a unique object, switching betweenlow/hard and high/soft spectral states, analogous to the Galactic black holesources. Our second objective is to monitor 1H 0419-577 (visible throughout thewhole of the AO-2 period) with a series of 15 ksec observations, to constrainthe timescale of the change of state and to follow its spectral evolution. Wehope this will yield new insights into the emission mechanism in AGN.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2002-09-25T18:02:42Z/2003-11-15T11:27:17Z
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 Ken Pounds, 2005, 'Exploring the X-ray emission mechanism in the variable Seyfert 1 comma 1H 0419-577', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-9kpw74k
