Mrk 590 is one of the best monitored changing-look AGN. After a decay duringwhich the continuum dimmed and the optical broad line disappeared together withthe soft X-ray excess, Mrk 590 is now awakening and broad line and soft excesshave re-emerged. We request two relatively inexpensive (25 ks) observations,that will be spaced by about 6 months, to follow the X-ray spectral evolutionduring the current rise. The recently discovered QPE phenomenon (Miniutti et al2019, Nature) may be invoked to account for the spectacular variability of thisand other changing-look AGNs. If so, the analogy predicts that the soft X-rayexcess should increase in strength and temperature during the rise.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2020-07-04T13:23:11Z/2021-01-03T18:08:32Z
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 Giovanni Miniutti, 2022, 'Exploring changing-look AGNs through the QPE analogy\: the case of Mrk 590', 18.02_20200221_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.57780/esa-hsel9jc
