
| Proposal ID | 072421 |
| Title | Monitoring the close encounter between a small cloud and a supermassive BH |
| Download Data Associated to the proposal | https://nxsa.esac.esa.int/nxsa-sl/servlet/data-action-aio?obsno=0724210201 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-wbpoh3o |
| Principal Investigator, PI | Dr Gabriele Ponti |
| Abstract | Earlier this year a gas cloud was discovered to be falling (accelerating)towards SgrA* and it is predicted to reach peribothron (at 2200 rS) in September2013. At a minimum, the cloud-SgrA* interaction is expected to induce enhancedemission varying on timescales of months/years. However, the cloud physics andSgrA*s close environment are not well understood. We propose 4*50ks XMMobservations to study the near-future evolution of the cloud. Its emissionproperties will be a sensitive probe of the characteristics of the accretionflow onto the supermassive Galactic BH, at milli-parsec scales. |
| Publications |
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| Instrument | EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2 |
| Temporal Coverage | 2013-08-30T20:13:12Z/2013-09-23T09:27:29Z |
| 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 | 2014-10-10T00:00:00Z |
| Last Update | 2026-03-04 |
| Keywords | "sensitive probe", "close encounter", "milli parsec scales", "XMM", "emission properties", "accretion flow", "sgra *'", "supermassive galactic bh", "september 2013", "accelerating towards sgra", "2200 rs", "gas cloud", "future evolution", "cloud physics", "supermassive bh", "cloud sgra" |
| Publisher And Registrant | European Space Agency |
| Credit Guidelines | European Space Agency, Dr Gabriele Ponti, 2014, 'Monitoring the close encounter between a small cloud and a supermassive BH', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-wbpoh3o |