X-ray Spectrometry of SN1987A

From our last XMMNewton observation of SN 1987A performed in Jan. 2008 (100 ks,AO6) we obtained EPIC and RGS spectra of unprecedented quality. The soft Xraylight curve shows a significant flattening after 2005, while at higher energiesthe light curve seems to steepen. To further monitor the turnover we propose tocontinue our yearly XMMNewton observations of SN 1987A. Together with ouraccepted AO7 observation this will allow us to study the time evolution of theshock conditions and abundance profiles of, e.g., N, O, Fe, Ne (with RGS). Athigh energies EPICpn can help to clarify the extremely low Fe abundanceobserved so far. Is the Fe completely swallowed by the central compact object oris the emission from the inner sections of the progenitor star still absorbed? truncated!, Please see actual data for full text [truncated!, Please see actual data for full text]