From a 100 ks XMM-Newton observation of SN 1987A performed in Jan. 2007 (AO5) weobtained EPIC and RGS spectra of unprecedented quality. The soft X-ray lightcurve shows a significant flattening since the beginning of 2006. To monitorthis turn-over we propose to continue our yearly XMM-Newton observations of SN1987A. Together with our accepted AO6 observation this will allow us to studythe time evolution of the shock conditions and abundance profiles of, e.g., N,O, Fe, Ne (with RGS). At high energies EPIC-pn can help to clarify the extremelylow Fe abundance observed so far. Is the Fe completely swallowed by the centralcompact object or is the emission from the inner sections of the progenitor starstill absorbed?
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2009-01-30T15:26:00Z/2009-01-31T22:35:34Z
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, Dr Frank Haberl, 2010, 'X-ray Spectrometry of SN1987A', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-5nlj1ru
