A 2001 XMM spectrum of radio-loud AGN 3C 223 revealed that the line-of-sightcolumn density is significantly different from the average global columndensity. Two qualities make 3C 223 remarkable: the implied obscurationgeometry is a Compton-thick (>1.7 x 10^24 cm^-2) ring of gas embedded ina global Compon-thin (1.4 x 10^23 cm^-2) medium, and it is one of the veryfew radio loud Compton-thick AGN candidates known.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2019-11-09T08:26:44Z/2019-11-09T23:38:10Z
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, Dr Stephanie Lamassa, 2021, 'INVESTIGATING THE COMPLEX OBSCURATION AROUND THE COMP-THICK QSR CANDIDATE 3C223', 18.00_20191217_1110, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.57780/esa-03gt22w
