The XMM-Newton optical/UV monitor telescope

¹ Mullard Space Science Laboratory, University College London, Holmbury St. Mary, Dorking, Surrey, RH5 6NT, UK
² Astrophysics Division, Space Science Department of ESA, PO Box 299, 2200 AG Noordwijk, The Netherlands
³ Department of Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, USA
⁴ Department of Physics and Astronomy, University College London, Gower Street, London, UK
⁵ Los Alamos National Laboratory, PO Box 1663, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA
⁶ Institut d'Astrophysique et de Géophysique, Université de Liège, 5 avenue de Cointe, 4000-Liège, Belgium

Corresponding author: K. O. Mason, kom@mssl.ucl.ac.uk

Received: 2 October 2000
Accepted: 20 October 2000

Abstract

The XMM-OM instrument extends the spectral coverage of the XMM-Newton observatory into the ultraviolet and optical range. It provides imaging and time-resolved data on targets simultaneously with observations in the EPIC and RGS. It also has the ability to track stars in its field of view, thus providing an improved post-facto aspect solution for the spacecraft. An overview of the XMM-OM and its operation is given, together with current information on the performance of the instrument.