Welcome to the XMM-Newton Science Operations Centre

The European Space Agency's (ESA) X-ray Multi-Mirror Mission (XMM-Newton) was launched by an Ariane 504 on December 10th 1999. XMM-Newton is ESA's second cornerstone of the Horizon 2000 Science Programme. It carries 3 high throughput X-ray telescopes with an unprecedented effective area, and an optical monitor, the first flown on a X-ray observatory. The large collecting area and ability to make long uninterrupted exposures provide highly sensitive observations.

Since Earth's atmosphere blocks out all X-rays, only a telescope in space can detect and study celestial X-ray sources. The XMM-Newton mission is helping scientists to solve a number of cosmic mysteries, ranging from the enigmatic black holes to the origins of the Universe itself. Observing time on XMM-Newton is being made available to the scientific community, applying for observational periods on a competitive basis.

Read more about the spacecraft, mirrors and instruments and about the XMM-Newton SOC.

News and Highlights

11-April-2025
From boring to bursting: a giant black hole awakens
The European Space Agency's XMM-Newton is playing a crucial role in investigating unprecedented bursts of X-rays from a newly awakened black hole in the galaxy SDSS1335+0728. After being inactive for decades, the black hole suddenly began producing regular flashes of X-ray light in February 2024. These bursts, known as quasiperiodic eruptions (QPEs), are ten times longer and more luminous than typical QPEs, with a regular cadence of about 4.5 days. This rare event provides astronomers with a unique opportunity to study black hole behavior in real time and understand the mechanisms behind these powerful X-ray eruptions.
Further details on ESA.int web portal.

08-April-2025
Observations explore the persistent nature of X-ray binary 4U 0728-25
Using ESA's XMM-Newton satellite, Italian astronomers have observed a Galactic X-ray binary system known as 4U 0728-25. Results of the new observations, presented in a research paper published March 28 on the arXiv preprint server, shed more light on the persistent nature of this source. The system, located about 24,800 light-years away, comprises a Be star and a neutron star (pulsar) with a pulse period of approximately 103.3 seconds. The observations detected 4U 0728-25 at a luminosity level of 90 decillion erg/s (in the energy range 2–10 keV), which is the lowest level ever observed for this source since its discovery. The spectral analysis revealed the presence of a flux excess above the main power-law component, which can be described with a black body model with high temperature (about 1.5 keV) and small emission radius (some 240 meters).
Further details on Phys.org web portal.

1-April-2025
Into the X-ray Universe • Exploring Cosmic Secrets
Phenomena in the universe that are only visible in X-rays provide insights into the most extreme processes in the cosmos. Beyond the visible spectrum, high-energy events such as black holes, stellar explosions, and hot matter flows become observable. ESA’s XMM-Newton space telescope supplies the data for extensive sky surveys in the X-ray range. A key outcome of this work is a scientific catalogue based on automated source detection, which is regularly updated. Overlapping observations reveal temporal variability and lead to the discovery of previously unknown objects — a valuable resource for astrophysical research.
Further details on youtube.com.

13-March-2025
Astronomers discover new supergiant fast X-ray transient, expanding rare class
Using ESA's XMM-Newton satellite, Italian astronomers have identified a new supergiant fast X-ray transient (SFXT), designated 4XMM J181330.1-175110 (J1813). SFXTs are a rare subclass of high-mass X-ray binaries characterized by brief, intense X-ray flares lasting from minutes to over an hour, typically involving a compact object accreting material from the clumpy wind of a blue supergiant companion. J1813 was initially undetected during its quiescent state but exhibited multiple X-ray flares during an active phase, with peak luminosities (in the 2–12 keV band) ranging from 10 to 400 decillion erg/s. Analysis suggests that J1813 harbors a heavily absorbed B-type star with an effective temperature of approximately 32,000 K, located between 22,800 and 42,400 light-years away. This discovery expands the known population of SFXTs, providing further insights into these rare and enigmatic systems.
Further details on Phys.org web portal.

04-March-2025
X-ray signal from Helix Nebula points to planet destroyed by white dwarf
Using ESA's XMM-Newton satellite, astronomers have analyzed an unusual X-ray signal from the white dwarf WD 2226-210 at the center of the Helix Nebula. The study, published on March 4, 2025, suggests that the X-rays result from debris of a Jupiter-sized planet being pulled onto the white dwarf's surface, indicating the planet's destruction. This observation, along with data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, provides evidence of a planet being consumed by its star, offering insights into the fate of planetary systems as stars evolve.
Further details on Phys.org web portal.

28-Feb-2025
Astronomers Uncover Key Evidence for the Existence of Intermediate-Mass Black Hole
A team of Chinese researchers has detected, for the first time, an X-ray quasi-periodic signal from a tidal disruption event (TDE) involving an intermediate-mass black hole (IMBH). Using ESA's XMM-Newton satellite, the researchers observed an 85-second oscillating X-ray signal from a previously suggested IMBH TDE candidate. The findings, published on February 28, 2025, in Nature Astronomy, provide crucial evidence supporting the existence of IMBHs — a missing link between stellar-mass and supermassive black holes. The black hole is estimated to have a mass between 9,900 and 16,000 solar masses, placing it within the predicted range for IMBHs. This discovery opens new possibilities for detecting and studying IMBHs through X-ray timing analysis of TDEs.
Further details on nao.cas web portal.