Straightforward interpretation of the spectacular new microlensingevent OGLE-1999-BUL-32 indicates that the lens is either a virgul130Msun black hole at 500 pc or a virgul30 Msun black hole at 6kpc. We request 50 ksec EPIC camera observations that will yield alimiting X-ray sensitivity which is more than two orders of magnitudedeeper than the best existing limits. If detected, the observationswill allow us to distinguish between the two possible lens distancesand provide a powerful test of models for accretion onto isolatedblack holes.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2002-09-21T09:00:15Z/2002-09-21T22:52:35Z
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 Thomas Vestrand, 2004, 'Studying X-Ray Emission from a Nearby Isolated Black Hole', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-pk14wfc
