XMM-Newton-NEWS


XMM-Newton-NEWS  #66,    10-May-2007

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

SOC Home Page: https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/xmm-newton/
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/newsletter

Contents:


Next XMM-Newton Users Group meeting

As announced in XMM-Newton News #62, the date of the next Users Group (UG) meeting is 7th - 8th June, 2007. A dedicated Web page of the Users Group is available at:
   http://xmm.esac.esa.int/external/xmm_user_support/usersgroup/

This web page provides, among other, the contact points for all interested astronomers to send their comments and suggestions to the UG members prior to the meeting.

Please find herewith the agenda:

1.Welcome M. Arnaud
2.Adoption of the agenda All
3.Overall Mission status
and MEOR (Mission Extended Operation Review)		 A. Parmar
4.Instrument operations R. Munoz
5.ODF & PPS delays R. Munoz
6.Report of the Project Scientist
- including TOOs
- AO6, LP, statistics		 N. Schartel
7.Background
7.1. Background Radiation level
7.2. Background Treatment		  
P. Rodriguez
M. Ehle
8.Calibration
8.1 EPIC Calibration Status
8.2 RGS Calibration Status
8.3 OM Calibration Status
8.4 Cross-calibration Status
     - cross-calibration within XMM-Newton (e.g. MOS/pn)
     - with other missions		  
M. Kirsch
A. Pollock
A. Talavera
M. Stuhlinger
9.SAS developments and future plans C. Gabriel
10.SSC status + 2nd XMM catalogue M. Watson
11.Action items from last meeting M. Santos
12.Input from the community
- questions / comments from community		 Mission Scientists
13.General Discussion/AOB All
14.Dedicated Discussion I
- Background
- Scientific Outcome of the Workshop
- Very Large Programs and needs for new operating modes
- Mission Extension		  
15.Dedicated Discussion II UG
16.Date and time of next meeting UG

Reminder: ESAC Faculty Workshop "X-rays from Nearby Galaxies"

Please note the Approaching Deadline for registration and abstract submission for the ESAC Faculty workshop "X-rays from Nearby Galaxies" on MAY 31ST!

As announced on March 20th, the aims and scope of this workshop are to provide a forum for discussion of the latest results from studies of X-ray emission from nearby galaxies. By summarising the present status of this field and identifying the most critical unsolved problems we hope to ignite new ideas about how to use the current generation of satellites for successful X-ray studies of nearby galaxies and define which follow-up observations will be most useful in enhancing our knowledge of these systems. This will also highlight the instrumental requirements for X-ray studies of nearby galaxies with future missions.

The workshop web page containing latest detailed information including confirmed keynote talks and the online submission form is available at:
   http://faculty.esac.esa.int/events/workshops/galaxies2007/

If you have any questions, please contact the workshop organising committee at: galaxies2007@sciops.esa.int

EPIC filter wheel closed data

As part of the ongoing activities of the EPIC Background Working Group to provide users with data and tools to help in the analysis and interpretation of observations affected by the EPIC background, stacked collections of filter wheel closed data, i.e. data taken with the filter wheel in closed position, are now available for the MOS and pn cameras at:
   http://xmm.esac.esa.int/external/xmm_sw_cal/background/filter_closed

These exposures are dominated by the instrumental background and can be used to model and subtract this internal EPIC background component.


Yours sincerely,
XMM-Newton SOC