A dataset provided by the European Space Agency

Proposal ID 060269
Title How fast can an AGN shut down? XMM-Newton observation of IC 2497
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https://nxsa.esac.esa.int/nxsa-sl/servlet/data-action-aio?obsno=0602690101

DOI https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-spbt1ow
Principal Investigator, PI Dr Kevin Schawinski
Abstract We propose to observe IC 2497 with XMM-Newton to detect, or rule out, anobscured AGN that might account for the illumination of Hanny.s Voorwerp.. TheVoorwerp is a highly ionised cloud of gas extended over 15-25 kpc next to thespiral galaxy IC 2497. There is no source of ionisation within the Voorwerp,implicating a luminous 1E44 erg/s AGN in IC 2497 as the source. Swift XRTobservations do not yield a detection, allowing the presence of a highlyobscured, sufficiently luminous AGN. With 34 ksec of XMM observations, we coulddetect an obscured AGN down to 1E42 erg/s. We can thus either locate an obscuredAGN, or we can for the first time constrain the shutdown time scale for apowerful AGN, as it drops by a factor of 100 in luminosity in 1E5 years.
Publications
Instrument EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage 2010-04-19T08:25:05Z/2010-04-19T22:01:19Z
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.
Creator Contact https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/xmm-newton/xmm-newton-helpdesk
Date Published 2011-05-15T00:00:00Z
Keywords "agn shut", "obscured agn", "powerful agn", "XMM", "time constrain", "shutdown time scale", "voorwerp '.", "ic 2497", "luminous 1e44 erg", "luminous agn", "ionised cloud", "XMM-Newton", "swift xrt", "1e42 erg", "xmm newton"
Publisher And Registrant European Space Agency
Credit Guidelines European Space Agency, Dr Kevin Schawinski, 2011, 'How fast can an AGN shut downquestionMark XMM-Newton observation of IC 2497', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-spbt1ow