XMM-Newton-NEWS


XMM-NEWTON NEWS #20,    25-Jan-2002

ESA, XMM-Newton Science Operations Centre at
European Space Astronomy Centre (ESAC)
P.O. Box - Apdo. 50727, 28080 Madrid, Spain

SOC Home Page: http://xmm.esac.esa.int/
Helpdesk web interface: https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/xmm-newton/xmm-newton-helpdesk
Helpdesk email address: xmmhelp@sciops.esa.int
News Mailing List: https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/xmm-newton/newsletterindex.shtml

Contents:

Dear Colleagues,

1st SAS Workshop at VILSPA: pre-registration

The XMM-Newton SOC is planning to hold a XMM-Newton Data Analysis Workshop, at the XMM-Newton Science Operations Centre, possibly at the end of April 2002.

We are currently collecting 'expressions of interest' from the XMM-Newton users to find out how many people would be interested to participate, what level of experience with X-ray astronomy data analysis and the Science Analysis System (SAS) they have, and which items they would mostly like to be addressed.

Please, fill in the questionnaire available at:
http://xmm.esac.esa.int/external/xmm_news/sas_workshop/announcement.html

and let us know about your interests in such (and future) SAS Workshops.

XMM-Newton AO-2 status

The processing of the submitted XMM-Newton AO-2 proposals has suffered a delay of some 2 months with respect to the originally anticipated timeline. We will announce a more detailed timeline of the AO-2 review process by mid-February.

Inauguration of the XMM-Newton Users Group

The XMM-Newton project scientist will from now on be assisted by a new advisory body: "The XMM-Newton users group".

This group has been established following approval by ESA's Director of Science, and will meet for the first time on 6/7 March 2002 at the location of the XMM-Newton Science Operations Centre in ESAC, Madrid, Spain. This group replaces the XMM-Newton Science Working Team such as to ensure the broadest community input possible. The Users Group will meet at regular intervals, and will formally report on an annual basis to one of ESA's advisory bodies: The Astronomy Working Group (AWG).

For your information, the mission statement of the users group is:
 Advise the project scientist on all matters relating to the optimisation of the scientific output of the XMM-Newton mission. As such it replaces the Science Working Team as an advisory body, and in the process adds a number of external members who participate on a rotating basis.

The formal description of the activities and responsibilities of the users' group is kept to the minimum to allow for maximum flexibility in their activities.

The following applies:
The members of the users' group are:
Name Voting Comment
Jürgen Schmitt Yes Chairman
Roberto Pallavicini Yes Mission Scientist
Richard Mushotzky Yes Mission Scientist
Jacqueline Bergeron Yes Mission Scientist
Richard Griffiths Yes Mission Scientist
Phil Charles Yes External
Xavier Barcons Yes External
Andrea Comastri Yes External
Michiel Van der Klis Yes External
Bert Brinkman No RGS-PI
Martin Turner No EPIC-PI
Keith Mason No OM-PI
Mike Watson No SSC-PI
Bernd Aschenbach No Telescope scientist
Malcolm Longair No OTAC Chairman
Fred Jansen No Project Scientist
Norbert Schartel No Secretary

The E-mail addresses of the users group members entitled to vote are listed below so that XMM-Newton users have the opportunity to bring forward their questions and concerns to these representatives.
Name E-mail
Jürgen Schmitt jschmitt@hs.uni-hamburg.de
Roberto Pallavicini pallavic@oapa.astropa.unipa.it
Richard Mushotzky mushotzky@lheavx.gsfc.nasa.gov
Jacqueline Bergeron bergeron@iap.fr
Richard Griffiths griffith@astro.phys.cmu.edu
Phil Charles pac@astro.soton.ac.uk
Xavier Barcons barcons@ifca.unican.es
Andrea Comastri comastri@bo.astro.it
Michiel Van der Klis michiel@astro.uva.nl


Yours sincerely,
XMM-Newton SOC