The Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer General Observer Program

The Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) is a NASA Small Explorer Mission resulting from the collaboration of NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and other partners. IXPE is designed to perform measurements of the polarization state of light from astrophysical sources in the 2-8 keV range. Launched from the Kennedy Space Center on December 9, 2021, IXPE has been successfully performing science operations since January 2022.

IXPE has been providing crucial insights into our understanding of X-ray production and the geometry of several and varied objects such as neutron stars and pulsar wind nebulae, as well as stellar and supermassive black holes, among others. Overall, IXPE provides simultaneous imaging, spectral, timing, and polarization data for 2-8 keV X-rays.

Following completion of its prime mission in January 2024, the IXPE project plans to initiate a General Observer (GO) program, through which the community can drive the future IXPE discoveries. I will provide an overview of the expected timeline, observational requirements and proposal planning tools available for Cycle 1 of the IXPE GO program.