The main objective of this program is to test the possibility that a fossilgroup is the end-product of the merging of dense groups/poor clusters. Fossilgroups exhibit an extended X-ray halo with LX, total mass and gas mass similarto poor clusters, but optically they are dominated by a single luminouselliptical galaxy surrounded by faint companions. We plan to obtain XMM-Newtondata to analyse the diffuse emission of two fossils groups selected from theSDSS and ROSAT databases. We will determine their masses, M/L, measure theirtemperatures and metallicities and map their gas densities, in order to infertheir dynamical states.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2008-03-26T13:01:47Z/2008-03-27T01:56:16Z
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 Claudia Mendes de Oliveira, 2009, 'THE NATURE OF FOSSIL GROUPS: CLUES TO THEIR ORIGIN', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-kctaxmd
