| Proposal ID | 074347 |
| Title | Simultaneous study of SWCX at Mars near solar maximum with XMM and Mars Express |
| Download Data Associated to the proposal | https://nxsa.esac.esa.int/nxsa-sl/servlet/data-action-aio?obsno=0743470201 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-8ukv4ri |
| Principal Investigator, PI | Dr Konrad Dennerl |
| Abstract | We propose to utilize the exceptionally favorable observing conditions of Marsfor XMM in June 2014 for detailed studies of solar wind charge exchange (SWCX)induced X-ray emission in its exosphere, accompanied by simultaneous in-situmeasurements of the solar wind with Mars Express. XMM has already provided thefirst direct, unambiguous detection of SWCX emission from the Martian exosphere.This finding has consequences for X-ray astrophysics in general (soft X-raybackground), is important for our understanding of planetary evolution(atmospheric outgassing), and opens up a novel method for remote global imagingof planetary exospheres and their spatial and temporal variability. There willbe no similarly favorable opportunity before 2023. |
| Publications |
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| Instrument | EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2 |
| Temporal Coverage | 2014-06-17T23:32:04Z/2014-06-19T15:57:49Z |
| Version | 21.51_20241115_1113 |
| 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 | 2015-07-03T22:00:00Z |
| Last Update | 2026-07-09 |
| Keywords | "solar maximum", "swcx emission", "xray astrophysics", "soft xray background", "novel method", "situ measurements", "martian exosphere", "XMM", "unambiguous detection", "planetary exospheres", "mars express", "solar wind", "remote global imaging", "temporal variability" |
| Publisher And Registrant | European Space Agency |
| Credit Guidelines | European Space Agency, Dr Konrad Dennerl, 2015, 'Simultaneous study of SWCX at Mars near solar maximum with XMM and Mars Express', 21.51_20241115_1113, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-8ukv4ri |
| Rights | Data hosted in the ESA Space Science Archives are distributed under the CC BY-NC 3.0 IGO license. |