First Announcement of Opportunity (AO-1) for Observations with "Suzaku" and Publication of Test Observation Data

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Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
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First Announcement of Opportunity (AO-1) for Observations
with "Suzaku" and Publication of Test Observation Data

December 2, 2005
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency

The 23rd scientific satellite "Suzaku," which was launched by JAXA
from the Uchinoura Space Center on July 10, 2005 (Japan Standard Time,
JST), has completed its initial verification operations of the
satellite and its onboard equipment, and is now performing test
observations. JAXA made an international Announcement of Opportunity
(AO) on its website for researchers on Nov. 17, 2005 (JST), to start
international AO observations in April, 2006.

JAXA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and
the European Space Agency (ESA) are in charge of receiving
applications and selecting proposals. Researchers from the U.S. and EU
countries are asked to submit their proposals to NASA and the ESA,
respectively, and all other researchers are to submit their proposals
to JAXA. The First Announcement of Opportunity (AO-1) is for a one
year observation period starting on April 1, 2005, and its submission
deadline is at noon on January 7 (Sat.), 2006 (JST). The selection
will be made by the end of March 2006 (JST).

For more details, please refer to the following website for
researchers.

http://www.astro.isas.jaxa.jp/suzaku/index.html.en

For researchers who are preparing to propose an observation project,
JAXA published some initial observation data on Dec. 2 (Fri). To date,
the Suzaku has observed over 50 astronomical bodies including nearby
fixed stars, supernova remnants, active galactic nuclei where a
gigantic black hole is believed to exist, and galaxy clusters
(clusters of millions of galaxies). Among them, we chose and published
the following seven pieces of observation data, which typically show
the observation ability of the "Suzaku."

- Supernova remnant E0102.2-7219
- Radio galaxy Centaurus A (Cen A)
- Galaxy cluster Abell 2052
- Pulsar PSR 1509-58
- Fixed star Eta Carinae
- Supernova remnant Cassiopeia A (Cas A)
- North Ecliptic Pole

The above data and necessary software for data analysis can be
downloaded from the website for Suzaku researchers.

Observation results by the Suzaku have also been reported at
international research meetings, and part of the report documents are
available on the following website. Please take a look at it.

http://www.astro.isas.jaxa.jp/suzaku.../index.html.en


* The 23rd scientific satellite "Suzaku"
JAXA launched the "Suzaku" on the M-V Launch Vehicle No. 6 on July 10,
2005 (JST). It was the fifth X-ray astronomy satellite launched in
Japan. The observation equipment was developed by a collaboration of
researchers from JAXA, the University of Tokyo, Saitama University,
RIKEN, Rikkyo University, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Aoyama Gakuin
University, Kogakuin University, Nagoya University, Kyoto University,
Osaka University, Kanazawa University, Hiroshima University, Ehime
University, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, University of Wisconsin,
and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In addition to the above
research institutes and universities, researchers from Iwate
University, Gunma Astronomical Observatory, Tokyo Institute of
Technology, Nihon Fukushi University, Kobe University, and the
University of Miyazaki participated in satellite operations and the
development of data processing software.
After its launch on Aug. 8 (JST), an anomaly was found in one of the
pieces of observation equipment, the X-ray spectroscope (X-ray
micro-calorimeter), and it stopped operating. But the X-ray telescopes,
X-ray CCD cameras, and Hard X-ray detector were smoothly turned on and
completed initial operations in August, and the expected high
performance of broad-range spectroscopic ability was verified.
Currently test observations are underway.


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Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
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TEL:+81-3-6266-6400


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Jacques :-)

www.spacepatches.info