PALEO is an ongoing study of fossil groups designed to probe the physical pro-cesses responsible for fossil group formation and the role of environment intheir evolution. At its core is the first volume-limited, complete sample offossil candidates, optically selected from the SDSS DR4. The existinglarge-scale spectroscopic data is being complemented with deep optical surfacebrightness observations which will probe the IGL component in fossil groups forthe first time. X-ray observations for the first half of the targets in oursample have been scheduled during AO6. The observations we propose here wouldcomplete the sample, and are an essential component of our study, allowing us toconfirm the fossil nature of these groups and examine the physical and chemical state of their IGM.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2009-04-05T19:46:37Z/2009-04-06T00:53:34Z
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, Ms Maria Pereira, 2010, 'PALEO Astronomy: The Formation and Evolution of Fossil Groups', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-f41iwg8
