GX301-2
We propose a 50 ks observation of the Compton-thick hypergiant X-ray Binary GX 301-2 during its regular pre-periastron flares. We will study the exact shape of the strong Fe K fluorescence line complex, the Fe K absorption edge, and the Compton shoulder profile. All these provide information on the ionization structure, temperature, column density and geometry of the absorbing material. We will also study the temporal variability of the Fe K lines and edge in 500s steps to probe the inhomogeneity of the stellar wind of the donor. This observation will therefore contribute to the construction of a self-consistent picture of the geometry and distribution of the reprocessing material in GX 301-2 and the interaction of the strong X-ray radiation with the dense wind of the stellar companion.
obsid = 201072010 / Unique Observation/Sequence Number
object = GX301-2 / Object name
pi_name = BALLHAUSEN RALF / Proposal Principal Investigator Name
ra = 186.655427195032 / Right Ascension (Pointing Position) (deg)
dec = -62.769846646187 / Declination (Pointing Position) (deg)
roll_angle = 132.464034136722 / Roll Angle (deg)
start_time = 2025-02-01T19:05:04 / Start Time of the Observation
stop_time = 2025-02-03T03:48:04 / Stop Time of the Observation
exposure = 59160.616723 / Effective Total Observation Exposure (s)
public_date= 2026-02-08 / Public Date