Galactic X-ray sources correspond to a variety of exotic populations. Mostsources with X-ray fluxes above 1e-11 erg/cm^2/s are well-known objects, whilebelow 1e-13 erg/cm^2/s, AGN, CVs and active stars dominate. However, manylow-latitude sources lie between these two regimes, corresponding to young andrelatively rare populations such as supernova remnants, pulsar wind nebulae, andstar clusters. As part of an effort to identify all the X-ray sources in theASCA Galactic Plane Survey, we here propose XMM observations of sixunidentified, extended, ASCA sources. Combined with our on-going Chandraobservations of unresolved ASCA sources, this work will complete the demographyof Galactic X-ray sources, from Sco X-1 down to the faintest sources known.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2007-07-30T07:24:42Z/2007-09-18T05:27:53Z
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 Bryan Gaensler, 2008, 'ChIcAGO: Chasing the Identification of ASCA Galactic Objects', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-17igcuv
