The recently discovered G2 dense dusty gas cloud, infalling towards the dormantSMBH at the center of our galaxy SgrA*, should reach its pericenter in September2013. The X-ray luminosity of SgrA* is expected to increase significantly atthis period and the fragmentation of this cloud should lead to an enhancedactivity period over several months/years. Therefore, we propose a large programto monitor SgrA* during the course of the G2 cloud near its pericenter passageand after this event, combining the XMM-Newton high-throughput with severalmulti-wavelength observations with ground-based telescopes and satellites. Thiswill offer us an unique opportunity to study accretion events on a dormant SMBHand its (re-)activation process.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2014-02-28T17:41:27Z/2014-04-02T20:29:09Z
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 Nicolas Grosso, 2015, 'Monitoring the awakening of the dormant SMBH at the center of our galaxy', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-uvn4y0k
