XMM observations of M87 comma the central galaxy of Virgo

M87 as the central galaxy of the nearest galaxy cluster, the Virgo cluster, isthe best laboratory to study the astrophsics of a walth of phenomena concerningthe intracluster plasma and its interaction with the central galaxy and its AGN.The most interesting observations are related to the measurement of the elementabundances and the temperature structure of the intracluster plasma, thedetailed study of the cooling flow, the study of the very interestinginteractrion of tehe jet and the radio lobes originating in th AGN of M87 withthe intracluster environment, and the detailed assessment of the mass and darkmatter distribution in the halo of M87. Due to its closeness M87 offers theopportunity to study these processes in much more detail than any other system. truncated!, Please see actual data for full text [truncated!, Please see actual data for full text]