Although jets are ubiquitous and important components in many differentastrophysical systems, their formation remains very poorly understood. Thepole-on jet in the symbiotic system MWC 560 serves as a Rosetta Stone forunderstanding pulsed, highly collimated, jets. We propose to use XMM for X-rayobservations of the symbiotic star MWC 560. It provides us with a uniqueopportunity to observe the launch site of the jet, the shock-induced propagationof the jet, and its end point, where the ejecta merge into the jet head. Wedetected with XMM a hard component from the accretion site and a soft componentassociated with the jet. Further observations are required for solving questionsconcerning the accretion process and for characterizing the soft component.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2013-04-12T02:39:50Z/2013-04-12T20:22:30Z
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 Matthias Stute, 2014, 'Catching A Symbiotic Star.s Pulsed Jet in the Act: X-Ray Observations of MWC560', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-5ra1b6h
