Project Details
Description
WE PROPOSE TO CONTINUE THE HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM TO USE SWIFT TO LOCALIZE GALACTIC X-RAY TRANSIENTS DISCOVERED BY MAXI THE OPERATIONAL PHASE OF WHICH HAS BEEN EXTENDED UNTIL MARCH 31 2021. MAXI SCANS ALMOST THE ENTIRE X-RAY SKY EVERY -92 MINUTES WITH A SOURCE DETECTION SENSITIVITY OF -60 MCRAB IN ONE ORBIT AND -15 MCRAB IN ONE DAY DISCOVERING X-RAY TRANSIENTS WITH 0.1-0.5 DEGREE ACCURACIES IN THE 2-20 KEV ENERGY BAND. SWIFT PROVIDES RAPID FOLLOW-UP OF MAXI TRIGGERS AND LOCALIZATION UP TO 1.4 ERROR RADIUS WHICH IS VITAL FOR IDENTIFYING ANY OPTICAL/RADIO COUNTERPART. XRT OBSERVATIONS WILL ALSO PROVIDE MEASUREMENTS OF THE LOW ENERGY X-RAY SPECTRA. UVOT DATA WILL PROVIDE ASTROMETRIC CORRECTIONS AND POSSIBLY OPTICAL COUNTERPARTS. SWIFT IS PROVEN TO BE UNIQUELY CAPABLE IN THIS TASK.
Status | Finished |
---|---|
Effective start/end date | 7/23/19 → 7/22/20 |
Funding
- Goddard Space Flight Center