With PanSTARRS we have discovered a new class of slow, blue nuclear transientswhich we believe to be rare examples of background AGN microlensed by stars inforeground galaxies, amplified by a factor of 10--100. The background AGN shouldbe somewhat resolved by the foreground lens, providing a unique new diagnosticof AGN size and structure - the UV, optical, IR, BLR, and X-ray regions shouldhave differing evolutions during the event. This proposal is a first steptowards understanding the structure of the X-ray source : testing themicrolensing hypothesis, characterising the SED, and establishing the first twoepochs in an expected gradual decline.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2013-08-12T02:33:10Z/2014-02-10T16:35:38Z
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, Prof Andy Lawrence, 2015, 'Resolving AGN with PanSTARRS transients', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-tmhzvqu
