In a significant advancement for space exploration, China released the inaugural batch of images captured by its Einstein Probe (EP) satellite at the 2024 Zhongguancun Forum held in Beijing on Saturday.
Launched in January, the EP satellite is outfitted with a wide-field X-ray telescope (WXT) and a follow-up X-ray telescope (FXT). This dual-telescope system allows the EP to perform extensive wide-field observations while simultaneously conducting focused X-ray imaging.
The Einstein Probe serves as a cosmic celestial explosion \"catcher,\" designed to detect and study X-ray transients and eruptive celestial phenomena across the universe. By issuing early alerts, it guides other astronomical instruments to conduct timely follow-up observations, enhancing our understanding of dynamic cosmic events.
This breakthrough positions China at the forefront of X-ray astronomy, providing valuable data that can lead to new discoveries about the universe's most energetic processes.
Reference(s):
China releases first images captured by X-ray satellite Einstein Probe
cgtn.com
