Welcome to the XMM-Newton Science Operations Centre

 

The European Space Agency's (ESA) X-ray Multi-Mirror Mission (XMM-Newton) was launched by an Ariane 504 on December 10th 1999. XMM-Newton is ESA's 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 Earth's 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.

Read more about the spacecraft, mirrors and instruments and about the XMM-Newton SOC.

 

News and Highlights

Cosmic_neon_lights Cosmic neon lights 11-Jan-2021
This image shows a new type of star that has never been seen before in X-ray light.A team of astronomers led by Lidia Oskinova...used ESA’s XMM-Newton X-ray telescope to study the object that was originally discovered in 2019.
Further details on ESAS's Science & Exploration portal.

Supergiant eclipsing binary IGR J18027–2016 investigated in detail Supergiant eclipsing binary IGR J18027–2016 investigated in detail 06-Jan-2021
Using data from ESA's XMM-Newton and NASA's Swift spacecraft, astronomers have conducted a detailed temporal and spectral study of an eclipsing supergiant X-ray binary known as IGR J18027–2016.
Further details on PHYS web portal.

CPclaxsonDec20-1 21 years of XMM-Newton celebrated with a new catalogue and an ambitious citizen science project 10-Dec-2020
On the 21st anniversary of the launch of the European Space Agency’s X-ray observatory, XMM-Newton, the XMM-Newton Survey Science Centre (XMM-SSC) are releasing a new catalogue, 4XMM-DR10...
Further details on IRAP web portal.

CPclaxsonDec20-1 Astronomers Discover the Second Stellar Tidal Disruption Event Caused by Supermassive Black Hole Binary 08-Dec-2020
Using data from NASA's Swift and ESA's XMM-Newton satellites, a team of Chinese researchers found new evidence for the existence of two close supermassive black holes (SMBH) in the center of a normal galaxy.
Further details on Chinese Academy of Sciences web portal.

Black_holes Odd X-ray flares from a SMBH pair tearing star 18-Nov-2020
Using data from NASA's Swift and ESA's XMM-Newton satellites, a team of Chinese researchers...found new evidence for the existence of two close supermassive black holes (SMBH)...They were discovered because they ripped apart a star, producing flaring X-ray emission, and these X-rays were seen by Swift and XMM-Newton.
Further details on NAOC web portal.

Cosmic furnace seen by XMM-Newton Cosmic furnace seen by XMM-Newton 12-Nov-2020
This burst of colour shows a fascinating discovery: a galaxy cluster acting as a cosmic furnace...XMM-Newton detected the cluster via the international XXL survey, which is exploring two large areas of space outside our galaxy.
Further details on ESA's Science & Exploration portal.