0120126

We propose three 150 ks observations of the nearby radio galaxyCentaurus A with INTEGRAL which we plan to coordinate withcontemporaneous RXTE observations. Cen A is the brightestextragalactic object at hundreds of keV and remains an enigma aftermore than three decades of observations. The primary goal of thecombined observations is to characterize the continuum shape as well assearch for variations in the spectrum by contrasting the threeobservations utilizing the excellent INTEGRAL continuum sensitivityover the 2 keV to ~1 MeV band. Any spectral variations seen willbe correlated with other spectral parameters as measuredsimultaneously by RXTE and INTEGRAL. Another primary goal of thisinvestigation is to provide an early INTEGRAL/RXTE cross calibration ofinstruments to set the basis for all such broad band measurements.Finally we will perform a speculative search for nuclear lines at 1.65and 4.5 MeV of which the latter were seen at low significance in anearly balloon observation. [truncated! Please see actual data for full text]