Spatially Resolved X-ray Spectrsocopy of the Wind-Blown Bubble NGC 2359

Fast winds from massive stars create large cavities in the surroundinginterstellar medium filled with hot gas, known as WindBlown Bubbles (WBB). Wepropose to obtain EPIC imaging spectroscopy of the WBB NGC 2359. Thanks to theEPIC excellent sensitivity, we will: (i) obtain a high quality CCD spectrumwhich can be used to constrain the temperature of the hot plasma and theefficiency of thermal conduction across the bubble wall, (ii) determine thespatial distribution and properties of Xray emitting plasma, (iii) test andrefine shock physics models of WBB by a direct confrontation of their resultswith observations; (iv) study the Xray properties of the presumably single WRstar WR 7. truncated!, Please see actual data for full text [truncated!, Please see actual data for full text]