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 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.

The Recipe for Powerful Quasar Jets The Recipe for Powerful Quasar Jets 14-Oct-2020
Some supermassive black holes launch powerful beams of material, or jets, away from them, while others do not. Astronomers may now have identified why. Using data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, ESA's XMM-Newton...
Further details on Chandra X-Ray Observatory web portal.

Astronomers Take a Closer Look at the Centers of Galaxies Astronomers Take a Closer Look at the Centers of Galaxies 29-Sep-2020
Study sheds light on how matter around the vicinity of supermassive black holes is distributed.Using ESA's XMM-Newton, NASA’s Chandra, and JAXA’s Suzaku telescopes, the researchers found three distinct regions where the X-rays get absorbed by matter.
Further details on UC SanDiego web portal.

NuSTAR and XMM-Newton observe a dusty shroud sparkling in X-rays NuSTAR and XMM-Newton observe a dusty shroud sparkling in X-rays 15-Sep-2020
NASA’s NuSTAR and ESA’s XMM-Newton satellites have observed a young, massive star in close orbit with the compact remnant from a collapsed star, thereby studying how massive stars evolve and interact.
Further details on the NuSTAR website.

XMM-Newton 20th Announcement of Opportunity (AO-20) XMM-Newton 20th Announcement of Opportunity (AO-20) 18-Aug-2020
The XMM-Newton Twentieth Announcement of Opportunity is now open and observing proposals may be submitted.
The deadline is 9 October 2020, 12:00 UT
Further details here on our XMM-Newton SOC website.

XMM-Newton spies youngest baby pulsar ever discovered Runaway Star Might Explain Black Hole's Disappearing Act 16-Jul-2020
The telltale sign that the black hole was feeding vanished, perhaps when a star interrupted the feast. The event could lend new insight into these mysterious objects.
Further details on NASA's web portal.