GSFC XMM-Newton GOF Status Report #185: XMM-NEWTON NEWS #99

[xmmnews@lists.nasa.gov]

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_/          XMM-NEWTON   NEWS   #99  ---   02-Dec-2009            _/
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              XMM-Newton Science Operations Centre at
               ESA's European Space Astronomy Centre,
 P.O. Box - Apdo. 78, 28691 Villanueva de la Canada, Madrid, Spain

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SOC Home Page:
  http://xmm.esac.esa.int/
Helpdesk web interface:
  http://xmm.esac.esa.int/external/xmm_user_support/helpdesk.shtml
Helpdesk email address:
  xmmhelp@sciops.esa.int
News Mailing List:
  http://xmm.esac.esa.int/external/xmm_news/news_list/index.php

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Contents:

  - Update of the BiRD Database
  - User Guide to the XMM-Newton SAS: update
  - Please alert us to significant XMM-Newton results
  - ESAC Trainee Opportunities
  - EXSA, a new science archive for EXOSAT


Update of the BiRD Database
===========================

The  BiRD database  has been  updated to  include all  the  RGS public
observations  taken until  September 1st  2009. It  contains  now 6300
spectra of 2700 different objects.

BiRD is  an utility to  browse and examine  RGS data.  Spectra  can be
selected through  different parameters,  such as date  of observation,
class of  object or level of  exposure. BiRD also  provides some basic
plotting  and  visualisation  tools,  both  for the  RGS  spectra  and
spectral images, and for the EPIC-pn images taken in parallel.

BiRD is available at the following URL:

http://xmm.esac.esa.int/BiRD/

Questions   and  comments   about  this   utility  can   be   sent  to
BiRD@sciops.esa.int


User Guide to the XMM-Newton SAS: update
========================================

XMM-Newton SOC  has updated the  User Guide to the  XMM-Newton Science
Analysis  System  for SAS  version  9.0.  The  guide is  available  in
different  formats  (postscript, pdf  and  html)  from the  XMM-Newton
Proposer's Info & Manuals Web page (Section: Data Analysis) at:

http://xmm.esac.esa.int/external/xmm_user_support/documentation/


Please alert us to significant XMM-Newton results
=================================================

The   XMM-Newton   team  does   not   have   dedicated  resources   to
systematically  monitor  astro-ph  and  the published  literature  for
exciting new results.  Therefore we rely on our  observers to alert us
about interesting new material. ESA does have a team of public affairs
officers  who will help  arrange appropriate  publicity, but  they can
only go to work once they know a result is available.  Please remember
that the public strongly supports astronomy in part because they enjoy
seeing the fruit of our work!

Please contact us through the helpdesk: xmmhelp@sciops.esa.int


ESAC Trainee Opportunities
==========================

The European Space Astronomy  Centre's (ESAC) Trainee programme offers
young scientists a  three to six months training  contract designed to
give valuable work experience and  to prepare for future employment in
the space industry and/or research.

The ESAC  Trainee Project is open  to undergraduates in  the final few
years  of their  degree and  recently graduated  students.  Applicants
should  be   nationals  of  ESA  Member  States   or  its  Cooperating
States. They should  be fluent in either English  or French, which are
the official languages of the Agency.

Seven  trainee positions  are  currently available  at the  XMM-Newton
Science Operation  Centre at ESAC. The description  of these positions
(projects 1-7) and  a description of the application  procedure can be
found at:

http://www.sciops.esa.int/index.php?project=ESACTRAINEES&page=Training%20Opportunities 


The deadline for applications is February 5th 2010.


EXSA, a new science archive for EXOSAT
======================================

The European  X-ray Observatory Satellite, EXOSAT, flew  more than two
decades ago, between 1983 and 1986:

http://www.rssd.esa.int/index.php?project=EXOSAT

ESA  announces the  release of  a  new EXOSAT  Science Archive,  EXSA.
Images,  spectra and  light curves  are available  through  an archive
interface built with software designed by the Science Archives Team at
ESAC.

More details about EXSA and a direct link to the archive can be  found
at:

http://www.rssd.esa.int/index.php?project=EXOSAT&page=archive



Yours sincerely,
XMM-Newton SOC

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