Non-accreting binary systems containing a spin-powered pulsar and a Be-starprovide us with unique opportunities to investigate the interaction between thepulsar and the stellar wind. We propose to monitor the binary system PSRB1259-63 with its companion Be-star SS 2883 during its periastron passage insummer 2007. This XMM-Newton data will enable us to examine the shocked emissionin a window around periastron in detail and to monitor how the spectral behaviorand the flux evolves when PSR B1259-63 passes through periastron. Thisobservations, which require only a modest amount of observing time, togetherwith archival data taken by ASCA and XMM at other orbital angles will finallyconstrain the geometry of the Be-star disk.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2007-07-20T08:36:30Z/2007-08-03T21:26:34Z
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 Werner Becker, 2008, 'Monitoring the 2007 periastron passage of the pulsar-binary system PSR B1259-63', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-mdppqxp
