RS Ophiuchi is a recurrent nova and a symbiotic binary system that is thought tohost a very massive white dwarf on the verge of the Chandrasekhar limit, and bea type Ia supernova candidate. In February of this year, RS Ophiuchi had anoutburst attributed to a thermonuclear runaway and has been monitored at allwavelength, including X-rays with RXTE, Swift, Chandra and XMM-Newton.XMm-Newton is the only telescope that is best suited to follow the decay andreturn to quiescence of this interesting system, completing the puzzling and inmany ways revolutionary picture offered in outburst.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2008-02-26T14:44:33Z/2008-02-27T02:39:55Z
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, Dr Marina Orio, 2009, 'Monitoring the decay of RS Ophiuchi', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-fhsmqqc
