The Geminga pulsar is unique among gamma-ray pulsars in having a precise andcontinuous, phase-connected ephemeris from 1973 up to the present. Since thedemise of the Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory in June 2000, the only practicalmethod of maintaining Geminga.s ephemeris is with X-ray observations. To extendour continuing XMM-Newton program on Geminga, we now request short observationstwice per year until 2007, when GLAST and/or AGILE will resume the gamma-raytiming. The principal scientific need for a phase-connected ephemeris is toprovide an absolute phase reference for ground-based observations, and tomonitor glitch activity such as that which recurred in 2002.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2006-10-02T07:04:22Z/2007-03-11T18:16:35Z
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, Prof Jules Halpern, 2008, 'Maintaining the Ephemeris of the Geminga Pulsar Until GLAST', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-i3cgdwb
