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The solar panels of the ROSAT spacecraft are fixed with respect to the XRT axis (Figure 1.1). In order to maintain a sufficient power supply, the solar panels must always be pointed within a cone around the Sun. Consequently, the sky accessible to ROSAT at any given time is a band perpendicular to the solar vector (corresponding to % of the whole sky). Due to the solar motion, this viewing path covers the whole sky in a period of six months. Targets in the vicinity of the ecliptic plane can be observed twice a year for days, whereas targets within of the ecliptic poles can be observed at all times. During the reduced pointing phase, the sun angle constraint was , as detailed in Sect. 1.2.3 above.