With a total mass of over 100Msun, e>0.9 and P_orbvirgul120yr, HD93129A is one of themost extreme massive binaries known. Astrometric measurements of its orbit haverevealed a periastron passage in Fall 2018. The strong stellar winds of the twostars and the tight separation at periastron are producing an intense wind-windcollision (WWC) and an unusually high thermal and non-thermal X-ray emissionthat we are currently monitoring. Here we request two additional 25ksec XMMobservations to follow the X-ray emission decrease as the system progresses awayfrom periastron. Obtaining a full coverage of the X-ray emission of HD93129A isa once-in-a-life-time opportunity to achieve observational breakthroughs in ourunderstanding of the shock physics and of the WWC hydrodynamics.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2019-06-07T05:25:44Z/2019-12-08T01:10:27Z
Version
18.00_20191217_1110
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, Prof Hugues Sana, 2021, 'The extreme colliding wind binary HD 93129A moving away from periastron', 18.00_20191217_1110, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.57780/esa-xjt26cd
