A precise position for the intermediate mass black hole candidate in ESO 243-49

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Scientific paper

While investigating the 2XMM catalogue, we identified a new ULX in the galaxy ESO 243-49 with an unabsorbed 0.2-10 keV Lx = 1.1E42 erg/s. A follow-up DDT observation with XMM found the spectrum had changed significantly, ruling out multiple low-luminosity sources. The Lx is almost an order of magnitude greater than the previous record holder, which when taken with the steep power-law spectrum and lack of radio emission rules out beaming. This ULX, with a conservative mass lower limit of ~500 Msun, provides the strongest evidence for the existence of intermediate mass black holes (Farrell et al., 2009, Nature, in press). This object is unique, puzzling and worth following-up given the significance of the results. We will begin monitoring this ULX with Swift in August to search for variability. Any significant changes in flux/spectrum will trigger requests for deep observations with ground based telescopes. Before such observations can take place a high precision position is required.

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