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Proposal ID 050097
Title The Mystery of the Hard X-ray Bright CV TW Pictoris
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DOI https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-0yn209t
Principal Investigator, PI Dr Koji Mukai
Abstract TW Pictoris is the optical counterpart of the HEAO-1 X-ray source H0534-581 andhas been proposed as a candidate intermediate polar (IP). Yet optical and X-rayobservations have failed to reveal the spin modulation, the definingcharacteristic of an IP. If this is a non-magnetic nova-like variable instead,then it is by far the X-ray brightest member of this class. We therefore proposean XMM-Newton observation in an attempt to solve this mystery.
Publications
Instrument EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage 2008-03-02T12:29:55Z/2008-04-25T07:22:54Z
Version 21.51_20241115_1113
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 2009-06-10T00:00:00Z
Last Update 2026-07-09
Keywords "xray brightest", "spin modulation", "XMM-Newton", "magnetic nova", "defining characteristic", "optical counterpart", "XMM", "tw pictoris", "xmm newton"
Publisher And Registrant European Space Agency
Credit Guidelines European Space Agency, Dr Koji Mukai, 2009, 'The Mystery of the Hard X-ray Bright CV TW Pictoris', 21.51_20241115_1113, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-0yn209t
Rights Data hosted in the ESA Space Science Archives are distributed under the CC BY-NC 3.0 IGO license.