First images from Einstein probe show black hole and supernova remnants in X-rays – Science

The first images, released at the Zhongguancun Forum in Beijing, show several celestial objectsIncluding the central region of the Milky Way Galaxy, the supermassive black hole M87 and a supernova remnant, state broadcaster CCTV reported today.

Among the 11 images revealed, showing objects near the center of the Milky Way, stand out are the supermassive black hole M87, a supernova remnant, 17 new transient X-ray radiation and 168 stellar flares.

Launched in January this year, the probe is equipped with two X-ray telescopes: a Wide Field Telescope (WXT) and a Survey Telescope (FXT).

look at the pictures

This combination allows you to make observations over large areas focusing on specific high-resolution events.

“The Einstein Probe's ability to observe almost the entire night sky in about five hours with high sensitivity makes it an ideal tool for detecting unexpected transient X-ray events.“, said ESA project scientist Erik Kolkers, quoted by CCTV.

A tweet from the European Space Agency on the X social network shows a little of what the probe will be able to reveal

The Einstein Probe is an international cooperation project led by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, with the participation of the European Space Agency (ESA).From the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics in Germany and the National Center for Space Studies in France.

This project is in addition to China's recent space achievements, which include landing the Chang'e 4 probe on the far side of the moon, exploring Mars and building its own space station, Tiangong.

China's space ambition continues to grow, and Tiangong will likely become the only operational space stationIf the International Space Station is removed, as planned, in 2030.