We propose to observe three normal, bright, (relatively) isolated ellipticalgalaxies that are surrounded by extended dark matter and hot gas halos typicalof poor clusters, with spatial extents of 500-1000 kpc. These systems, selectedfrom X-ray surveys, are probably fossil groups, systems whose bright galaxieshave merged into a single bright galaxy. With XMM-Newton, we will deriveaccurate gas density and temperature profiles to test mass distributionpredictions from numerical simulations, investigate any cooling gas in thecenters, determine the star formation history, inventory the stellar componentthrough the abundance determinations, and test formation theories of fossilgroups to determine their relationship to more typical groups and clusters.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2002-10-11T03:16:15Z/2002-10-11T08:19:52Z
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 William Forman, 2003, 'Over-Luminous Elliptical Galaxies', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-l1ju0ca
