In almost all relaxed clusters, the X-ray emission is centred on a brightgalaxy. However, from the most extensive study of cluster morphology available,based on Einstein data, we find a small class of clusters (just 2%) for whichthis is not the case. These clusters offer the best opportunity to studyimportant but elusive phenomena which follow the disturbance of a cluster by amerger event (eg. shock compression, galactic wakes). The rarerity of theseobjects reflects that these phenomena are short-lived (for comparison, the shockcompression period lasts less than 1Gyr). We propose to image such clusters withEPIC in order to discriminate between several interesting possible explanationsfor their aberrant morphology.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2004-02-11T19:56:26Z/2004-02-12T07:18:22Z
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 IRINI SAKELLIOU, 2005, 'GALAXY CLUSTERS WITH OFFSET CORES', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-7oshdbd
