In a groundbreaking discovery, China’s Einstein Probe (EP) satellite has detected a mysterious transient celestial object that flickers like cosmic fireworks, offering new insights into the universe’s most extreme phenomena.
On April 8, the EP satellite captured an unprecedented event named EP240408a—a violent X-ray flare that brightened by 300 times in mere seconds before fading away just 12 seconds later. This fleeting burst of energy, which disappeared entirely after about 10 days, could revolutionize our understanding of transient celestial phenomena.
“It is difficult for other X-ray and multi-wavelength telescopes to detect,” said Yuan Weimin, principal investigator of the EP mission and a researcher at the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). “This finding suggests that our previous understanding of transient celestial phenomena may be just the tip of the iceberg.”
The transient object showcases spectral and temporal features that don’t match any known types, potentially unveiling entirely new classes of cosmic events. These elusive cosmic “fireworks” carry crucial information about the formation and evolution of celestial bodies, making them invaluable to astronomers and astrophysicists worldwide.
The discovery has been published in the latest issue of the Chinese academic journal SCIENCE CHINA: Physics, Mechanics & Astronomy, highlighting China’s growing contribution to space exploration and astrophysics.
As the universe continues to surprise us with its mysteries, discoveries like EP240408a not only deepen our understanding but also inspire global collaboration in exploring the cosmos. The Einstein Probe’s success underscores the importance of advanced technology in uncovering the secrets of our universe.
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China's Einstein Probe discovers 'fireworks' of the universe
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