First X-ray obs of a Main-Belt Comet: linking X-ray astronomy to astrobiology

We propose to utilize the unprecedented sensitivity of XMMNewton in the softXray range for the first ever Xray study of a MainBelt Comet (MBC).Discovered only recently, MBCs constitute a fundamentally new and distinct classof objects: asteroids exhibiting cometary activity, which is most likely drivenby the sublimation of water ice. This has farreaching implications for ourunderstanding where our oceans came from. The evidence for water ice in MBCs,however, is only circumstantial yet, as optical spectra are dominated by dust.The situation is complementary for solar wind charge exchange induced Xrays,which are a sensitive tracer of tenuous amounts of gas. Thus, with the directdetection of gas, XMM would make a substantial contribution to astrobiology. truncated!, Please see actual data for full text [truncated!, Please see actual data for full text]