The Constellation-X Science Case

Hornschemeier, Ann E.; White, N.; Tananbaum, H.; Garcia, M.; Petre, R.; Bookbinder, J.
Bibliographical reference

American Astronomical Society, HEAD meeting #9, #19.03; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 38, p.393

Advertised on:
9
2006
Number of authors
6
IAC number of authors
0
Citations
0
Refereed citations
0
Description
Constellation-X presents a great leap forward in collecting area over current X-ray observatories and will enable high signal-to-noise studies of X-ray sources that are currently too faint for Chandra and XMM-Newton. Thus Constellation-X remains a high-priority mission in reviews by the National Academies and is the next major X-ray observatory under development by NASA. Con-X will carry out high spectral resolution studies of AGN, which currently require heroic megasecond-class observations with Chandra and XMM, in observations as short as 50 ks. Con-X will be able to track material in accretion disks around supermassive black holes on a light-crossing timescale and will study AGN out to at least redshift 6. The imaging (non-dispersive) spectroscopy capability of the mission will be critical to studying extended sources such as clusters of galaxies and supernova remnants. Con-X studies of clusters of galaxies will allow a crucial means of studying dark matter properties and also of studying dark energy. This talk will cover recent updates to the Constellation-X science case considering the new, proposed Con-X Lite approach. We will also discuss the process whereby the high energy astrophysics community may continue to influence the science case for the mission.