nh_1.ps.gz (gzipped Postscript, 23719 bytes)
Figure 1: The proposed XMM-LSS equatorial is shown as a white square (64 deg², mean exposure time 10 ks) overlaid on the N_H map (yellow: N_H > 5 10²⁰ cm^-2; red: N_H < 2 10²⁰ cm^-2). The central galactic and ecliptic latitudes are -58° and -18° respectively. The visibility of the area by XMM is of the order of 20% (the precise location has been chosen such to minimize N_H and maximize the XMM visibility). The green rectangle indicates the XMM Medium Deep Survey (GT programme owned by Liège, Milan(IFCTR) and Saclay with spectroscopic follow-up during the VLT/VIRMOS guaranteed time. It covers 2 deg² with a mean exposure time of ~ 20 ks) and the magenta square, the XMM_SSC/Subaru Deep survey (GT programme, 1 deg², mean exposure time ~ 75 ks). The thin blue rectangle indicates the NOAO deep optical survey.