This event poses a challenge for X-ray telescopes and other multi-wavelength observatories to detect.
In January 2024, China successfully launched the Einstein Probe (EP) space telescope into orbit to explore the deep secrets of the universe. Shortly after beginning its operations, EP made a remarkable discovery: the appearance of a transient celestial object exhibiting a bright flashing phenomenon like fireworks, which may signal a completely new astronomical phenomenon.
This is an impressive X-ray burst that brightened 300 times in just 12 seconds before vanishing. (Illustrative image).
This new event, designated EP240408a, attracted significant attention when the EP satellite detected it on April 8. With its advanced X-ray detection capabilities, EP recorded a remarkable X-ray burst that brightened 300 times in just 12 seconds before disappearing. The X-ray source gradually faded away and completely vanished after about 10 days. This indicates that it is not a typical phenomenon but rather a newly identified occurrence not previously documented in research.
According to Yuan Weimin, the principal investigator of the EP mission and a researcher at the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), this discovery challenges both X-ray telescopes and other multi-wavelength observational tools. “This finding suggests that our current understanding of transient celestial phenomena may only be the tip of the iceberg,” Yuan commented.
EP is equipped with advanced technology featuring two primary instruments: a Wide Field X-ray Telescope (WXT) and a Follow-up X-ray Telescope. The WXT is inspired by the eyes of a lobster, allowing it to observe and image X-rays from a wide field simultaneously. As a result, EP has quickly become a powerful tool for detecting transient events in the universe.
EP also recorded another gamma-ray burst, designated EP240315a.
Since its launch, EP has identified a total of 60 confirmed transient events, including phenomena such as supernovae, white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes. Notably, the satellite captured X-ray images of the moon in September, demonstrating its sophisticated observational capabilities.
In addition to the EP240408a event, EP also recorded another gamma-ray burst, designated EP240315a. This burst was detected at a distance of 25.6 billion light-years, further illuminating the process of black hole formation from stellar collapse. According to Yuan, this discovery shows that EP can observe gamma-ray bursts from very early stages of the universe, opening new research opportunities regarding extreme physical processes.
Paul O’Brien, head of the astrophysics department at the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Leicester, remarked: “The ability to survey and monitor a wide field in the X-ray sky has allowed EP to detect numerous new transient events and regularly track known sources. These discoveries affirm EP’s significant impact on the scientific community.”
