Our discovery of diffuse X-ray emission in the Orion Nebula has demonstratedthat hot bubbles, created by shocks in the powerful, hypersonic winds of high-mass stars, are a common feature of high-mass star-forming regions, not onlythose that host many early O-type stars. Pressure equilibrium with the HII gasand an apparent stream of 1.8 MeV emission, caused by the radioactive decay of26Al, connecting the Nebula region to the nearby Eridanus Superbubble suggestthe hot gas is not confined. The outflow of hot gas from such regions couldprovide a continual source of enrichment of the ISM, complementary to thediscrete but rare input of supernovae. Our aim is to directly image the outflowof X-ray-emitting hot gas from the Orion Nebula.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2009-08-28T10:47:57Z/2009-08-29T13:29:39Z
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 Kevin Briggs, 2010, 'Imaging the outflow of 2 MK gas from the Orion Nebula', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-j5n4obl
