Centarus A - Source Populations in the Nearest Bright Elliptical

We propose to observe Cen A for 35 ksec to study the active and normal aspectsof this massive elliptical. By its proximity and mass, Cen A presents uniqueopportunities, not only to study the central AGN and its jet, but to investigatethe properties of galactic Xray sources and the faint, hot gas corona in anelliptical. Detailed RGS spectroscopy of the Xray nucleus and jet willdetermine if the emission from the jet is thermal or synchrotron dominated. Wewill measure the density, temperature and abundance of the hot corona and, so long as the corona is in hydrostatic equilibrium, use these measurements todetermine the galaxy mass. We also will measure, for the first time, spectral and timing characteristics for the brighter galactic sources in an elliptical. truncated!, Please see actual data for full text [truncated!, Please see actual data for full text]