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XMM-Newton Guest Observer Facility
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SAS 21 is available!

XMM Highlights Stephen Walker The XMM GOF proudly showcases our Guest Observers!

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. 4251
  • XMM-Newton SAS v21.0 Released (19 Apr 2023)
    The latest release of the XMM-Newton Science Analysis Software is now available.
  • XMM-Newton AO-22 Results Released (24 Nov 2022)
    The list of XMM-Newton observing proposals accepted by the AO-22 Observing Time Allocation Committee is now available.
  • XMM-Newton Stacked Serendipitous Source Catalogue: 4XMM-DR12s Released (28 Jul 2022)
    12th release of the 4XMM stacked catalogue

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    More News

    Useful Links

    Archives, Surveys, and Catalogs

  • XMM-Newton Archive, XSA
  • HEASARC Browse
  • XMM-Newton Serendipitous Sky Survey (4XMM DR11 version)
  • Slew Survey (v. 2.0)
  • XMM OM Serendipitous UV Source Suvey Catalog (SUSS5.0)

    Observers Information

  • *** ToO Status ***
  • *** ToO Notification ***
  • Observation Search Page
  • Instructions for a final grant recipient report
  • Instructions for public access to publications

    Proposers Information

  • Mission Comparison Table
  • ESA Policies and Procedures for the XMM-Newton AO-21
  • XMM-Newton Users' Handbook, SOC-HTML, GOF-HTML
  • NASA NSPIRES Soliciation and Proposal Page
  • 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)

    • If you have any questions concerning XMM-Newton send e-mail to xmmhelp@lists.nasa.gov