GT- After the unexpected discovery of bright X-ray emission from comet C/1996B2 (Hyakutake), the subsequent X-ray detection of further comets has shown thatcomets represent a new class of X-ray sources. The capabilities of XMM, inparticular its high spectral resolution, will provide powerful diagnostic toolsfor understanding the X-ray generation mechanism.Pls. note that the exact coordinates are TBD, and as such the target should notyet be scheduled. In the case that a brighter, not yet discovered comet will beobservable with XMM, the coordinates, the time of observation, andsome instrument settings will have to be adjusted.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2004-05-07T21:32:59Z/2004-05-08T11:06:32Z
Version
PPS_NOT_AVAILABLE
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 Bernd Aschenbach, 2005, 'High-resolution Spectroscopy of Comets with XMM', PPS_NOT_AVAILABLE, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-a9rouj6
