Proposal ID | 050024 |
Title | V838 Mon: A Search for X-rays from a Possible Stellar Merger |
Download Data Associated to the proposal | https://nxsa.esac.esa.int/nxsa-sl/servlet/data-action-aio?obsno=0500240101 |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-wv3zgd2 |
Principal Investigator, PI | Prof Joel Kastner |
Abstract | V838 Mon is perhaps the most enigmatic and unusual object observed in stellarastrophysics in recent decades. The star underwent an enormous outburst in 2002,resulting in a spectacular system of light echoes whose evolution has been welldocumented by HST. The cause of the outburst remains the subject of vigorousdebate. One possibility is that of a stellar merger. A prediction of this modelis that the envelope of the merger remnant should be magnetically active. If so,V838 Mon should be a luminous X-ray source. We propose a 100 ks XMM/EPICobservation that will constrain the merger model for the V838 Mon outburst andwill help characterize the young cluster in which V838 Mon resides. |
Publications |
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Instrument | EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2 |
Temporal Coverage | 2008-03-17T13:30:38Z/2008-03-19T03:02:46Z |
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. |
Creator Contact | https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/xmm-newton/xmm-newton-helpdesk |
Date Published | 2009-06-25T00:00:00Z |
Last Update | 2025-01-27 |
Keywords | "spectacular system", "stellar astrophysics", "EPIC", "v838 mon", "v838 mon outburst", "stellar merger", "merger model", "light echoes", "magnetically active", "v838 mon resides", "XMM", "merger remnant", "luminous xray source", "HST" |
Publisher And Registrant | European Space Agency |
Credit Guidelines | European Space Agency, Prof Joel Kastner, 2009, 'V838 Mon: A Search for X-rays from a Possible Stellar Merger', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-wv3zgd2 |