HESS has discovered a new TeV source at high significance (virgul20sigma) in theGalactic plane, at 0.6deg North of PSR B1259-63: HESS J1302-631. This new sourceis extended (0.2deg) and exhaustive searches in existing broadband data,including the very preliminary results of a 5ks Chandra DDT observation in lateSept 2004, have revealed no obvious counterparts. The large sensitivity of XMM-Newton/EPIC and its energy range up to 15keV are required to identify the X-raycounterpart of this new TeV source despite the obscuration by gas in theGalactic plane. A 30ks observation will allow us to obtain morphological andspectral information in order to identify the physical nature of this new sourcewhich may be representative of a new class of high energy gamma-ray sources.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2005-07-14T21:22:03Z/2005-07-15T06:12:21Z
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 Yael Fuchs, 2006, 'Search for the X-ray counterpart of the new TeV source HESS J1302-631', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-hiwesmf
