XMM-Newton observations of M87 and Its X-Ray Halo

Abstract

We report performance verification observations of the giant elliptical galaxy M87 in the Virgo Cluster with the MOS, pn, and optical monitor instruments on board of XMM-Newton. With the energy sensitive imaging instruments MOS and pn we obtain the first spatially constrained X-ray spectra of the nucleus and the jet of the galaxy. The good photon statistics of the pn and MOS allow a detailed analysis of the radial temperature and abundance distribution of 6 elements. The data provide no indication of a multi-temperature structure for radii less than 2 arcmin. An apparent sharp metal abundance drop deduced for the regions inside this radius is probably due to resonant line scattering.

7 pages, 14 figures, to be published in the special issue of Astronomy and Astrophysics on first results from XMM-Newton. Astron. and Astrophys., in press