The first high-resolution X-ray imaging of the shell-type SNR Kes 78

We propose to use XMMNewton to produce the first ever highresolution Xrayimage of the elongated shelltype SNR G32.80.1 (Kes 78). Not only is Kes 78 aknown Xray emitter (weak emission is seen by ROSAT and a small fraction iscovered by XMMNewton), it is also embedded in a region of molecular gasappearing to interact with the SNR; therefore, Kes 78 is an ideal laboratory forexploring the physics of an SNR interaction with a molecular cloud. The highsensitivity and spectral resolution of XMMNewton will allow us to search forboth thermal and nonthermal Xray emission to probe the details of the SNR/MCinteraction, to constrain the properties of the SNR and the surrounding mediumand to search for a possible association with a new VHE gammaray source. truncated!, Please see actual data for full text [truncated!, Please see actual data for full text]