False color image of the Eta Carina Nebula. Red: 0.4-0.75 keV, green: 0.75-1.3 keV, blue: 2.0-7.2 keV. Processed with ESAS and available in the Science Gallery.

The XMM-Newton Guest Observer Facility

XMM-Newton, the X-ray Multi-Mirror Mission, is the second cornerstone of the Horizon 2000 program of the European Space Agency (ESA). XMM-Newton was launched on December 10 1999 at 14:32 GMT (09:32 EST). The observatory consists of three coaligned high throughput 7.5m focal length telescopes with 6 arc second FWHM (15 arc second HPD) angular resolution. With its large collecting area and X-ray and optical/UV bands, XMM greatly facilitates studies of objects ranging from clusters of galaxies to compact objects, and their inherent physical attibutes.

Besides having funded elements of the XMM-Newton instrument package, NASA also provides the NASA Guest Observer Facility (GOF) at the NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) and funds a Guest Observer (GO) program to support the usage of XMM by the U.S. scientific community. The GOF provides a clearing house for project-generated technical information and analysis software as well as budget support for U.S. astronomers who apply for XMM-Newton observation time.

• The US GOF plays a vital role in the compilation of the XMM Science Analysis System (SAS) and supports US GOs in their installation and use of SAS.
• The GOF has developed accurate and precise algorithms for modeling the EPIC particle background in the Extended Source Analysis Software (ESAS) SAS tools.
• The GOF continues to streamline data reduction.

XMM-Newton images over a 30 arc minute field of view with moderate spectral resolution. The European Photon Imaging Camera (EPIC) observes in the 0.2-12 keV band and consists of two MOS and one PN CCD arrays. High-resolution spectral information (E/dE~300 from 0.4-2.5 keV) is provided by the Reflection Grating Spectrometer (RGS) that deflects half of the beam on two of the X-ray telescopes. The observatory also has a coaligned 30 cm optical/UV telescope, the Optical Monitor (OM). More detailed information on the instruments can be found under Focal Plane Instrumentation in these pages and in the XMM-Newton Users' Handbook (GSFC or ESAC links).

These pages are intended for members of the scientific community. For members of the general public, or those interested in general astronomy/astrophysics information please go to our Education and Public Outreach site.

Latest News - Rev. 3731 XMM-Newton AO-21 Solicitation Released (17 Aug 2021) XMM-Newton observing proposals are solicited in response to the Twenty-first Announcement of Opportunity. XMM-Newton AO-20 Results Released (4 Dec 2020) The list of XMM-Newton observing proposals accepted by the AO-20 Observing Time Allocation Committee is now available. XMM-Newton AO-20 Solicitation Released (18 Aug 2020) XMM-Newton observing proposals are solicited in response to the Twentieth Announcement of Opportunity. [What is this?] More News Useful Links Symposium Information Introduction The 20th Anniversary GSFC Symposium Archives, Surveys, and Catalogs XMM-Newton Archive, XSA HEASARC Browse XMM-Newton Serendipitous Sky Survey (3XMM DR8 version) Slew Survey (v. 2.0) XMM OM Serendipitous UV Source Suvey Catalog (SUSS4.1) Observers Information *** ToO Status *** Observation Status Log Instructions for a final grant recipient report Proposers Information ESA Policies and Procedures for the XMM-Newton AO-19 XMM-Newton Users' Handbook, SOC-HTML, GOF-HTML NASA NSPIRES Soliciation and Proposal Page Mission Comparison Table The SOC's Proposer Info and Manuals Data Reduction (SAS,ESAS) Software, Scripts, and Documentation Science Analysis Software (SAS) Getting Started with SAS on SciServer XMM-ESAS Cookbook Updated MOS1 FWC CalDB file for ESAS The XMM-Newton ABC Guide, Streamlined The XMM-Newton ABC Guide SAS Users' Guide Data Analysis Perl Scripts News Briefs and Press Releases News from ESA Press Releases from the SOC XMM Quarterly Mission Status & Performance Reports General ESA XMM Homepage XMM-Newton Science Operations Centre (SOC) at the European Space Astronomy Centre (ESAC) ESA XMM-Newton Users Group Science with XMM Science Objectives XMM-Newton Publications XMM Image Gallery Senior Review Proposals (Science Sections only)