The remarkable discovery of a system of three Earth-sized potentially-habitableplanets transiting the ultra-cool dwarf TRAPPIST-1 provides an unprecedentedopportunity for detailed study of the atmospheres of terrestrial exoplanets. Ouranalysis of an archival XMM-Newton observation of the star revealed XUVradiation that was fifty times stronger than assumed in a theoretical study ofthe planetary atmospheres, with enough XUV irradiation to profoundly modify andperhaps entirely strip those atmospheres. Here we propose a longer XMM-Newtonobservation that will cover a full spin cycle of the star and more accuratelydefine the XUV irradiation of the exoplanets. This is an essential step inassessing the habitability of these and similar exoplanets around ultra-cool dwarfs.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2017-11-23T23:12:44Z/2017-12-12T15:09:19Z
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 Peter Wheatley, 2018, 'XUV irradiation of the Earth-sized planets orbiting TRAPPIST-1', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-ak1sp1h
