The Constellation X-ray mission

Abstract

Constellation-X combines both the large collecting area and sensitive spectrometers required to obtain high spectral resolution, broad bandpass (0.25—40 keV) spectroscopy for all classes of X-ray sources, over a wide range of luminosity and redshift. It represents a major advance in sensitivity, providing up to a factor of 100 increase in throughput over currently planned high resolution (R > 300) X-ray spectroscopy missions. Constellation-X is the X-ray equivalent of the Keck Telescope. When observations begin towards the end of the next decade, they will mark the start of a new era with high resolution X-ray spectra obtained for all classes of X-ray sources over a wide range of luminosity and distance. With its increased capabilities, Constellation-X will address many fundamental astrophysics questions such as observing the formation and evolution of clusters of galaxies; constraining the Baryon content of the Universe; determining the spin and mass of super massive black holes in AGN; and probing strong gravity in the vicinity of black holes.