| Proposal ID | 088403 |
| Title | Probing the variable nature of a new Ultraluminous X-Ray Source in NGC 3621 |
| Download Data Associated to the proposal | https://nxsa.esac.esa.int/nxsa-sl/servlet/data-action-aio?obsno=0884030101 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.57780/esa-em0mumb |
| Principal Investigator, PI | Dr Sara Elisa Motta |
| Abstract | A new ULX was recently discovered in the nearby galaxy NGC 3621 in the archivalXMM-Newton data, which shows extremely marked variability - unique among theknown ULXs - reminiscent of the so-called heartbeats, a type of variabilitypattern observed in only a handful of systems. The archival data yieldedcontradictory information on the nature of the compact object powering XMMJ111816.0-324910, partly due to the limited quality of the data, and to thelimited understanding of the heartbeat phenomenon. We propose a Target ofOpportunity observation of XMM J111816.0-324910 for a total of 120ks, to obtaina better understanding of the properties of J1118 by means of detailed spectraland timing analysis. This ToO will be triggered based on approved Swift observations. |
| Publications |
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| Instrument | EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2 |
| Temporal Coverage | 2023-06-21T16:13:47Z/2023-06-23T06:00:27Z |
| Version | 21.51_20241115_1113 |
| 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. |
| Creator Contact | https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/xmm-newton/xmm-newton-helpdesk |
| Date Published | 2024-07-14T00:00:00Z |
| Last Update | 2026-07-09 |
| Keywords | XMM-Newton, OM, RGS, EPIC, X-ray, Multi-Mirror, SAS |
| Publisher And Registrant | European Space Agency |
| Credit Guidelines | European Space Agency, Dr Sara Elisa Motta, 2024, 'Probing the variable nature of a new Ultraluminous X-Ray Source in NGC 3621', 21.51_20241115_1113, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.57780/esa-em0mumb |
| Rights | Data hosted in the ESA Space Science Archives are distributed under the CC BY-NC 3.0 IGO license. |