Bibcode
Murray, S. S.; Primini, F. A.; Kraft, R. P.; Garcia, M. R.
Bibliographical reference
American Astronomical Society, 195th AAS Meeting, #20.06; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 31, p.1404
Advertised on:
12
1999
Citations
0
Refereed citations
0
Description
As part of our Guaranteed Time Observer program on the Chandra X-Ray
Observatory, we have an M31 observing program which has two major
objectives. First to monitor the galaxy on a monthly basis to detect
transient sources and follow their evolution. Second to obtain a deep
image of the central region of M31 in order to measure the luminosity
function and structure of this nearby Milky Way analog. Our first
observation of this planned program was a 15 ksec exposure obtained in
early October 1999, centered on the nucleus and using the ACIS-I imaging
array of CCD's. Over 150 individual point sources are detected in this
observation with a limiting flux of about 0.5x1036 ergs
sec-1. A source coincident with the nuclear radio source is
clearly detected and resolved from two other nearby point sources. We
also detect diffuse emission from the nuclear region and have identified
at least one ( 1038 ergs sec-1) new transient
source (as compared with the ROSAT M31 source lists). The luminosity
function, spatial distribution, and spectral properties of the nuclear
region will be presented and discussed. The spectrum and luminosity of
the source coincident with the radio nucleus will be compared to
galactic X-ray binaries and SGR A* in an effort to determine the nature
of this source.