Head-tail trails are a common feature in active galactic nuclei and pulsarbow-shocks. Heinz et al. (2008) suggested that also X-ray binaries, being jetsources moving with high velocities in dense media, can leave trails of highlyionized plasma that should be detectable at radio frequencies. Duringobservations of faint-persistent X-ray binaries, we discovered an optical nebulaaround the X-ray binary SAX J1712.6-3739, consisting of a bow-shock ring-likenebula ..in front. of the binary and two trails originating close to it. Thisis the first detection of such structure in a X-ray binary and it opens a newsub-field in the study of these objects. Observations with XMM-Newton andChandra are now needed to investigate the properties of the surrounding nebula.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2011-08-24T13:27:48Z/2011-08-24T23:09:45Z
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 Paolo Soleri, 2012, 'An X-ray look at the first head-trail nebula in an X-ray binary', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-19omtgr
