| Description |
We propose to utilize comets as natural space probes for sampling the heavy ion
content of the solar wind in the transition phase from solar maximum to solar
minimum in 3D, by investigating the X-ray emission which results from charge
exchange interactions between solar wind ions and cometary neutrals. During
AO-14, three comets will be favorably placed for XMM-Newton: C/2013 US10
(Catalina), 252P/LINEAR, and 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, sampling the solar wind
between -30 deg and +30 deg heliographic latitude. This proposal makes full use
of the spectral, temporal, and spatial resolution of XMM-Newton, of its full
field of view, and of all its six (PN, MOS1, MOS2, RGS1, RGS2, OM) scientific
instruments. |
| Mission Description |
The European Space Agency's (ESA) X-ray Multi-Mirror Mission (XMM-Newton) was launched by an Ariane 504 on December 10th 1999. XMM-Newton is ESA's 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 Earth's 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. |
