Astronomers have been aware of the outbursts in classical symbiotic binariesfor over one hundred years, and yet the cause and nature of these outbursts isstill not well understood. The underlying physical processes are probably re-lated to those in dwarf novae and/or the supersoft X-ray sources, but they occurin a significantly different environment. We propose to continue our AO1 programwith a series of XMM observations of the first symbiotic on our target list thatoutbursts during the AO2 period. These observations will allow us to follow thesimultaneous X-ray and UV spectral evolution during outburst, and thereforeplace strong constraints on models. The X-ray line emission from shock heatedcolliding winds will provide information about the composition of these winds.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2003-10-10T01:49:20Z/2006-07-27T18:43:04Z
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 Jennifer Sokoloski, 2007, 'Outbursts in Symbiotic Binaries', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-8f74j4q
