A powerful new approach to study early galaxy formation is through compactelliptical galaxies (CEGs) which are local analogs of the high-redshift rednuggets thought to represent progenitors of today.s early-type galaxies. X-rayobservation of the hot diffuse gas of CEGs is the most viable means to measurethe global properties like the halo concentration, mass, and baryon fraction,but only two CEGs have been identified that are suitable for such an X-rayanalysis. To remedy this, we constructed a sample of 14 CEGs to map in detailtheir X-ray emission. We propose a snapshot survey of the 7 CEGs in the samplewhich lack any X-ray data. Deep follow-up exposures with XMM-Newton and Chandraof promising targets will then be sought for detailed analysis of their global mass distributions.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2019-08-02T21:28:41Z/2020-02-06T17:48:34Z
Version
18.02_20200221_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 David Buote, 2021, 'Snapshots of Compact Elliptical Galaxies', 18.02_20200221_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-h8pggm0
