The discovery with HST of the evaporation of the transiting exoplanet HD209458bhas raised the possibility that the evolution of close-in planets is dominatedby mass loss. This evaporation must be driven by the X-ray emission of theparent star, which we can measure directly with XMM-Newton. In this proposal weaim to measure the X-ray irradiation rate of two nearby transiting planets. Thisis an essential step in determining the role of evaporation in the evolution ofclose-in planets.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2008-12-10T14:02:40Z/2008-12-10T23:11:14Z
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 Peter Wheatley, 2010, 'The X-ray irradiation and evaporation of close-in extra-solar planets', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-n60ta0y
