Timing accuracy and capabilities of XMM-Newton

Since December 1999, ESA's large X-ray space observatory XMM-Newton operates in a highly eccentric 48-h orbit which allows for long uninterrupted exposure times. The three payload instruments EPIC, RGS, and OM yield scientific data of high quality and sensitivity. We report here on the current timing capabilities of all three instruments by showing results from analyses on relative and absolute timing. In this context we discuss the process of correlating local onboard event arrival times to terrestrial time frames and present some detailed results from time correlation analyses. This involves investigations on the performance of the onboard quartz oscillator that have been performed. In addition we describe problematic timing data anomalies in the EPIC-pn data and their treatment by the SAS. We show recent examples of timing analyses.