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

Ballhausen_twittersized 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 in the NuSTAR's web portal.

RPS 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.

Runaway Star Might Explain Black Hole's Disappearing Act 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.

XMM-Newton spies youngest baby pulsar ever discovered XMM-Newton spies youngest baby pulsar ever discovered 17-Jun-2020
An observation campaign led by ESA’s XMM-Newton space observatory reveals the youngest pulsar ever seen – the remnant of a once-massive star – that is also a ‘magnetar’, sporting a magnetic field some 70 quadrillion times stronger than that of Earth.
Further details on ESA's Science & Exploration portal.

Black hole’s heart still beating Black hole’s heart still beating 10-Jun-2020
The first confirmed heartbeat of a supermassive black hole is still going strong more than ten years after first being observed. X-ray satellite observations spotted the repeated beat after its signal had been blocked by our Sun for a number of years. Our astronomers say this is the most long lived heartbeat ever seen in a black hole...
Further details on Durham University web portal.

Scientists detect heartbeat of super massive black hole 600 million light years away Scientists detect heartbeat of super massive black hole 600 million light years away 10-Jun-2020
Scientists have confirmed that the heartbeat of a super massive black hole is still going strong after ten years. Astronomers say this is the longest living heartbeat ever seen in a black hole, and that it can help to tell scientists more about its size and the space around it.
Further details on BBC web portal.