3C 234: a Compton-thick radio-loud Type 2 quasar in the backyardquestionMark

We propose a 30 ks XMMNewton observation of the hidden radioloud quasar 3C 234(z 0.1848). The F(210)/F(OIII) ratio and a low signaltonoise ASCAspectrum strongly suggest the possibility that the nuclear absorber isComptonthick. The detection of a Fe Kalpha line with EW larger than 1 keV inthe XMMNewton spectrum would definitely confirm this suggestions. If so, 3C 234would turn out to be the first Comptonthick radioloud Type 2 QSO observed and,with an intrinsic 210 keV luminosity of 3 x 10e46 erg/s, one of the very mostpowerful object ever detected at z less than 0.2. The discovery of an AGN withsuch peculiar properties is strongly needed in the framework of Unified Modelsand, thereby, in the synthesis models of the Xray cosmic background. truncated!, Please see actual data for full text [truncated!, Please see actual data for full text]