Bibcode
Tananbaum, H.; White, N.; Weaver, K.; Petre, R.; Bookbinder, J.; Garcia, M.
Referencia bibliográfica
American Astronomical Society, HEAD meeting #8, #13.01; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 36, p.925
Fecha de publicación:
8
2004
Número de citas
1
Número de citas referidas
1
Descripción
The Constellation-X mission is a high through-put X-ray facility,
emphasizing observations at high spectral resolution (Delta E/E 300 to
3000) while covering a broad energy band up to 60 keV. Constellation-X
is the x-ray astronomy equivalent of large ground-based optical
telescopes such as the Keck and the VLT, complementing the high spatial
resolution capabilities of Chandra. Constellation-X will obtain precise
measures of the chemical composition and physical conditions of objects
ranging from the closest stars to the most distant quasars via x-ray
spectroscopy of unprecedented sensitivity. With these capabilities
Constellation-X will test GR using x-rays emitted close to the event
horizon of black holes, measure dark energy parameters and observe the
formation of the largest structures in the universe(clusters of
galaxies), probe the intermediate redshift universe (black holes,
galaxies, and clusters with redshifts in the range 0.5-4), trace the
spatial distribution of "missing" baryons and dark matter in the warm
intergalactic medium, study the atmospheres of neutron stars and white
dwarfs, and observe the formation of metals (C to Zn) in supernovae and
their ejection into interstellar and intergalactic space.
Constellation-X is a key element in NASA's Beyond Einstein Initiative.
We will provide an update on the status of the program, and we will
discuss Con-X in relation to the XEUS mission currently under study by
ESA and JAXA.