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High Resolution Temporal and Spectral Monitoring of Eta Carinae's X-Ray Emission the June EclipseThe supermassive and luminous star Eta Carinae undergoes strong X-ray variations every 5.5 years when its 2-10 keV X-ray emission brightens rapidly with wild fluctuations before dropping by a factor of 100 to a minimum lasting 3 months. The most recent X-ray "eclipse" began in June 2003 and during this time Eta Carinae was intensely observed throughout the electromagnetic spectrum. Here we report the first results of frequent monitoring of the 2-10 keV band X-ray emission by the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer along wit high resolution X-ray spectra obtained with the transmission gratings on the Chandra X-ray Observatory. We compare these observations to those results obtained during the previous X-ray eclipse in 1998, and interpret the variations in the X-ray brightness, in the amount of absorption, in the X-ray emission measure and in the K-shell emission lines in terms of a colliding wind binary model.
Document ID
20040171534
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Corcoran, M. F.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Hamaguchi, K.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Henley, D.
(Birmingham Univ. United Kingdom)
Pittard, J. M.
(Leeds Univ. United Kingdom)
Gull, T. R.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Davidson, K.
(Minnesota Univ. MN, United States)
Swank, J. H.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Petre, R.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Ishibashi, K.
(Massachusetts Inst. of Tech. MA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 22, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2004
Subject Category
Astronomy
Meeting Information
Meeting: American Astronomical Society Meeting
Location: Atlanta, GA
Country: United States
Start Date: January 4, 2004
End Date: January 8, 2004
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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