Science and Technology Daily reporter Lu Chengkuan
On the 27th, the first batch of in-orbit scientific exploration images of the Einstein probe satellite was officially released. The images include the observation image of the wide-field X-ray telescope pointing to the center of the Milky Way, the first temporary source image reported by the wide-field X-ray telescope, the observation image of the Crab Nebula by the follow-up X-ray telescope, and the observation image of the Messier 87 elliptical galaxy by the follow-up X-ray telescope.
Since its launch into orbit in January 2024, the two payloads of the Einstein probe satellite, the wide-field X-ray telescope and the follow-up X-ray telescope, have obtained X-ray scientific observation data of multiple sets of cosmic objects during in-orbit testing and instrument calibration, and have detected 17 new temporary sources and 168 stellar flares, and issued more than 10 global telegrams, guiding many international optical and radio telescopes and space X-ray observatories to carry out follow-up observations, and the observation results have been highly recognized and concerned by international peers.
In the next stage, the Einstein probe satellite will continue to carry out and complete in-orbit tests according to the established plan, strengthen cooperation and open data sharing at home and abroad, detect fleeting "fireworks" in the universe, and make important contributions to high-energy time-domain astronomical observation and research.
It is reported that the Einstein probe satellite is one of the space science satellite series of missions implemented by the Chinese Academy of Sciences Space Science (Phase II) Pilot Project, led by the Chinese side, the European Space Agency, the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics of Germany and the French Space Agency to participate in the implementation of the mission in the form of international cooperation, mainly used to observe violent explosions in the universe, capture these fleeting cosmic "fireworks", because the main scientific objectives involve black holes, gravitational waves and other important scientific predictions of Einstein's theory of relativity, so it is named "Einstein probe" 。
Wide-field X-ray telescope observation image pointing to the center of the Milky Way
Provisional source image first reported by a wide-field X-ray telescope
Followed by an X-ray telescope image of the Crab Nebula
Followed by an X-ray telescope observation image of the Messier 87 elliptical galaxy
(Photo courtesy of the National Space Science Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences)