ESA title

The mission

XMM-Newton is studying X-ray sources across the Universe: looking deep into the centre of galaxies, studying stars at all stages of their live, investigating what happens in and around black holes, and following up on explosive events like gamma-ray bursts. XMM-Newton helps us explore how the Universe was formed and how matter behaves under the most extreme circumstances.

The launch

  • Launch: 10 December 1999
  • Launch location: Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana
  • Launch vehicle: Ariane 5
  • Orbit: 48-hour elliptical orbit around Earth, inclined at 40 degrees. Apogee altitude 115 000~92 000 km.
XMM-Newton
Astronomers discover vast filament of ‘missing’ matter
Science & Exploration

“The models were right”: astronomers find ‘missing’ matter

19/06/2025 20720 views 72 likes
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Science & Exploration

From boring to bursting: a giant black hole awakens

11/04/2025 8092 views 69 likes
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Giant black hole gobbling up doomed white dwarf star
Science & Exploration

XMM-Newton catches giant black hole’s X-ray oscillations

13/01/2025 7350 views 63 likes
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Science & Exploration

XMM-Newton celebrates 25 years of breakthroughs

10/12/2024 3831 views 67 likes
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A neutron star
Science & Exploration

Too young to be so cool: lessons from three neutron stars

20/06/2024 2978 views 28 likes
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Black hole winds from a galactic core
Science & Exploration

XMM-Newton spots a black hole throwing a tantrum

01/02/2024 4918 views 52 likes
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Science & Exploration

Brightest gamma-ray burst illuminates our galaxy as never b…

28/03/2023 16237 views 200 likes
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Science & Exploration

XMM-Newton spies black holes eating the same stars again an…

12/01/2023 46606 views 143 likes
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Illustration of a magnetar
Science & Exploration

XMM-Newton spies youngest baby pulsar ever discovered

17/06/2020 6624 views 81 likes
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Giant flare from a tiny star
Science & Exploration

XMM-Newton reveals giant flare from a tiny star

20/02/2020 9693 views 110 likes
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Mapping the surroundings of a black hole
Science & Exploration

XMM-Newton maps black hole surroundings

20/01/2020 10701 views 84 likes
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The hot, gaseous components of the Milky Way’s halo – artist’s impression
Science & Exploration

XMM-Newton discovers scorching gas in Milky Way’s halo

16/01/2020 4373 views 42 likes
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X-ray and optical view of the Perseus galaxy cluster
Science & Exploration

First sighting of hot gas sloshing in galaxy cluster

10/01/2020 8362 views 75 likes
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XMM-Newton's view of star-shredding black hole
Science & Exploration

XMM-Newton captures final cries of star shredded by black h…

09/01/2019 10718 views 183 likes
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Detecting the warm-hot intergalactic medium
Science & Exploration

XMM-Newton finds missing intergalactic material

20/06/2018 18581 views 169 likes
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Science & Exploration

Reflecting on XMM-Newton

10/12/2012 3592 views 13 likes
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XMM-Newton
Agency

XMM-Newton celebrates decade of discovery

09/12/2009 3953 views 3 likes
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The white dwarf and its companion
Science & Exploration

XMM-Newton uncovers a celestial Rosetta stone

03/09/2009 3253 views 1 likes
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Artist's impression of galaxy and HLX-1 (blue star to the left)
Science & Exploration

XMM-Newton discovers a new class of black holes

01/07/2009 6107 views 22 likes
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Supermassive black hole
Science & Exploration

XMM-Newton takes astronomers to a black hole’s edge

27/05/2009 4756 views 10 likes
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Messier 82
Science & Exploration

XMM-Newton exclusive photo: Messier 82

08/04/2009 3539 views 6 likes
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SGR 1627-41
Science & Exploration

XMM-Newton measures speedy spin of rare celestial object

13/01/2009 2592 views 10 likes
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Artist’s impression of a magnetar
Science & Exploration

XMM-Newton and Integral clues on magnetic powerhouses

14/11/2008 2087 views 0 likes
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ESOC re-establishes communication with XMM-Newton
Enabling & Support

XMM-Newton talks again loud and clear

23/10/2008 2324 views 3 likes
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XMM-Newton’s trail on the nigh-sky
Enabling & Support

XMM-Newton calls for help

22/10/2008 1327 views 2 likes
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Artist’s impression of a super-massive black hole
Science & Exploration

XMM-Newton uncovers well-tuned super-massive black hole

17/09/2008 1794 views 0 likes
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2XMM J083026+524133
Science & Exploration

XMM-Newton’s massive discovery

25/08/2008 5900 views 8 likes
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V598 Puppis, the star that everyone missed
Science & Exploration

XMM-Newton discovers the star that everyone missed

18/07/2008 2204 views 1 likes
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Science & Exploration

XMM-Newton watches lazy pulsar being jazzed up by companion

23/06/2008 2130 views 4 likes
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Science & Exploration

XMM-Newton discovers part of missing matter in the Universe

06/05/2008 5898 views 7 likes
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Broad Absorption Line quasar
Science & Exploration

Cosmic engines surprise XMM-Newton

07/04/2008 3144 views 9 likes
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Neutron Star/Quark Star Interior
Science & Exploration

XMM-Newton gives new insight into neutron stars

08/01/2008 4725 views 5 likes
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A Rotating Radio Transient
Science & Exploration

XMM-Newton: pulsed heartbeat of a weird new type of star

21/12/2007 1860 views 0 likes
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Galaxy cluster Abell 3128
Science & Exploration

XMM-Newton unveils hidden cosmic giant

14/12/2007 1991 views 1 likes
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Artist's view of Integral
Science & Exploration

Extension of ESA’s Integral and XMM-Newton missions approved

14/11/2007 2113 views 0 likes
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XMM-Newton
Science & Exploration

XMM-Newton releases the largest catalogue of X-ray sources

07/09/2007 1732 views 0 likes
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Explosion on a neutron star
Science & Exploration

XMM-Newton and Suzaku help pioneer method for probing exoti…

27/08/2007 2655 views 0 likes
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A new star is born
Science & Exploration

XMM-Newton reveals X-rays from gas streams around young sta…

31/05/2007 3463 views 0 likes
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An optical image of NGC 4051
Science & Exploration

XMM-Newton pinpoints intergalactic polluters

20/04/2007 1443 views 0 likes
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VLT image of  RXJ1856 sky region
Science & Exploration

XMM-Newton finds the leader of the Magnificent Seven in a s…

09/03/2007 2618 views 0 likes
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XMM-Newton view of supernova SN 1987A
Science & Exploration

XMM-Newton’s anniversary view of supernova SN 1987A

23/02/2007 2278 views 0 likes
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XMM-Newton image of star AB Aurigae
Science & Exploration

XMM-Newton reveals a magnetic surprise

22/02/2007 2177 views 0 likes
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Great comet-like ball of fire seen by XMM-Newton
Science & Exploration

XMM-Newton spots the greatest of great balls of fire

12/06/2006 6036 views 2 likes
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Galaxy clusters as seen by XMM-Newton
Science & Exploration

XMM-Newton reveals the origin of elements in galaxy clusters

10/05/2006 1995 views 0 likes
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XMM-Newton slew survey of the Vela supernova remnant
Science & Exploration

XMM-Newton 'spare-time' provides impressive sky survey

03/05/2006 1610 views 1 likes
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XMM-Newton observes fossil galaxy cluster
Science & Exploration

XMM-Newton digs into the secrets of fossil galaxy clusters

27/04/2006 3240 views 1 likes
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XMM-Newton image of pulsar 'RX J0720.4-3125'
Science & Exploration

XMM-Newton reveals a tumbling neutron star

19/04/2006 2965 views 2 likes
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A hot gas cloud whirling around a miniature 'cannibal' star
Science & Exploration

Cannibal stars like their food hot, XMM-Newton reveals

23/03/2006 2422 views 0 likes
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XMM-Newton image of galaxy M33
Science & Exploration

XMM-Newton scores 1000 top-class science results

25/01/2006 1849 views 0 likes
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Integral views annihilation in our galaxy
Science & Exploration

ESA’s Integral and XMM-Newton missions extended

05/12/2005 2069 views 0 likes
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