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 theBH.s 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 magnetar.s 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.
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.
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
