MBM16 is a dense molecular cloud at high Galactic latitude (l=170,b=-38,d=60-95pc) whose absorption of the X-ray background has been used to measure thestrength of the Galactic halo. Liu et al. has recently claimed that thebackground X-ray emission towards MBM16 is not consistent with a significantGalactic halo and suggested that previous halo measurements using the nearbyMBM12 and MBM20 clouds are wrong. However, ROSAT measurements of these clouds dosuggest significant halo emission. Using a new observation strategy, we proposean observation of MBM16 that will measure the halo emission, settle thisapparent disagreement, and avoid the complication of solar wind charge-exchange.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2019-02-07T05:48:07Z/2019-02-08T18:47:29Z
Version
PPS_NOT_AVAILABLE
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 Kip Dee Kuntz, 2020, 'MBM16\: Is the Galactic Halo Really MissingquestionMark', PPS_NOT_AVAILABLE, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-251c6jz
