A new superwind galaxy:: XMM-Newton observations of NGC 6810

We present the first imaging X-ray observation of the highly inclined (i = 78 degrees) Sab Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 68 10 using XMM-Newton, which reveals soft X-ray emission that extends out to a projected height of similar to 7 kpc away from the plane of the galaxy. The soft X-ray emission beyond the optical disc of the galaxy is most plausibly extraplanar, although it could instead come from large galactic radius. This extended X-ray emission is spatially associated with diffuse Hcy emission, in particular with a prominent 5-kpc-long HU filament on the north-west of the disc. A fraction less than or similar to 35 per cent of the total soft X-ray emission of the galaxy arises from projected heights vertical bar z vertical bar >= 2 kpc. Within the optical disc of the galaxy the soft X-ray emission is associated with the star-forming regions visible in ground-based H alpha and XMM-Nevvton optical monitor near-UV imaging. The temperature, supersolar alpha-element-to- iron abundance ratio, soft X-ray/H alpha correlation, and X-ray to far-infrared (FIR) flux ratio of NGC 68 10 are all consistent with local starbursts with winds, although the large base radius of the outflow would make NGC 68 10 one of the few 'disc-wide' superwinds currently known. Hard X-ray emission from NGC 68 10 is weak, and the total E = 2-10 kev luminosity and spectral shape are consistent with the expected level of X-ray binary emission from the old and young stellar populations. The X-ray observations provide no evidence of any active galactic nucleus activity. We find that the optical, IR and radio properties of NGC 68 10 are all consistent with a starburst galaxy, and that the old classification of this galaxy as a Seyfert 2 galaxy is probably incorrect.