| Name | 080248 |
| Title | KIC 9832227: A Contact Binary about to Merge |
| URL | https://nxsa.esac.esa.int/nxsa-sl/servlet/data-action-aio?obsno=0802480101 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-xy2d0ph |
| Author | Dr Dirk Pandel |
| Description | Luminous red novae are thought to be the result of the merger of two non-degenerate stars in a contact binary (W Ursae Majoris star). Previously, stellar mergers in these systems have only been recognized after they had already entered the luminous red nova stage, making it difficult to study their pre-outburst properties. KIC 9832227 was recently identified as a contact binary that may undergo a merger in approximately five years. This provides us with a unique opportunity to study the evolution of a contact binary as it approaches the luminous red nova stage. The proposed XMM-Newton observation will provide a baseline for future X-ray monitoring leading up to the merger and allow us to investigate the stellar activity on the binary. |
| Publication | No observations found associated with the current proposal |
| Instrument | EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2 |
| Temporal Coverage | 2017-04-18T14:51:53Z/2017-04-19T03:21:53Z |
| Version | 17.56_20190403_1200 |
| 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. |
| Creator Contact | https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/xmm-newton/xmm-newton-helpdesk |
| Date Published | 2018-05-16T22:00:00Z |
| Publisher And Registrant | European Space Agency |
| Credit Guidelines | European Space Agency, Dr Dirk Pandel, 2018, 080248, 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-xy2d0ph |