| Proposal ID | 074363 |
| Title | Monitoring a 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=0743630201 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-dt0hzik |
| Principal Investigator, PI | Dr Gabriele Ponti |
| Abstract | A gas cloud, dubbed G2, was recently discovered to be falling towards Sgr A*.This allows us to witness the unique occurrence of a cloud interacting with theBHs close environment and likely partially accreting. We propose 4*50 ks XMMobservations to: i) monitor the long term variations of the X-ray flux producedby Sgr A* as it interacts with the cloud; ii) monitor any variation, induced bythe cloud flyby, to the frequency and intensity of Sgr A*s flaring activity;iii) use the magnetars light echo and its variations to scan the Galacticcentre matter distribution around Sgr A*; iv) monitor the evolution of thesuperluminal echo reflected from the Bridge. |
| Publications |
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| Instrument | EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2 |
| Temporal Coverage | 2014-08-30T19:20:01Z/2015-04-02T19:04:19Z |
| 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 | 2016-05-06T22:00:00Z |
| Last Update | 2025-01-27 |
| Keywords | "", "flaring activity", "light echo", "xray flux", "partially accreting", "XMM", "dubbed g2", "superluminal echo reflected" |
| Publisher And Registrant | European Space Agency |
| Credit Guidelines | European Space Agency, Dr Gabriele Ponti, 2016, 'Monitoring a close encounter between a small cloud and a supermassive BH', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-dt0hzik |