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{{Short description|X-ray space telescope}}
{{Distinguish|Einstein Observatory}}
{{Distinguish|Einstein Observatory}}
{{Infobox spaceflight
⚫
The '''Einstein Probe''' (EP) is an [[X-ray]] [[space telescope]] mission by [[Chinese Academy of Sciences]] (CAS) in partnership with [[ESA]] and the [[Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics]] (MPE) dedicated to time-domain [[high-energy astrophysics]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Einstein Probe in a nutshell |url=https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2023/12/Einstein_Probe_in_a_nutshell |website=www.esa.int |access-date=28 December 2023 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="factsheet">{{cite web |title=Einstein Probe factsheet |url=https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Einstein_Probe_factsheet |website=www.esa.int |access-date=28 December 2023 |language=en}}</ref> The primary goals are "to discover high-energy transients and monitor variable objects".<ref>{{cite web |title=Einstein Probe Time Domain Astronomical Information Center |url=https://ep.bao.ac.cn/ep/ |website=ep.bao.ac.cn |access-date=28 December 2023}}</ref> It will carry two instruments: the Wide-field X-ray Telescope (WXT) and the Follow-up X-ray Telescope (FXT).<ref name="mpg">{{cite web |title=EinsteinProbe |url=https://www.mpe.mpg.de/7867826/EinsteinProbe |website=www.mpe.mpg.de |access-date=28 December 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
| name = Einstein Probe
| names_list = Aiyinsitan Tanzhen
| image = Einstein Probe illustration.png
| image_caption = Einstein Probe artist impression
| image_size = 300px
| mission_type = [[Space observatory]]
| operator = [[Chinese Academy of Sciences|CAS]], [[ESA]]
| COSPAR_ID = 2024-007A
| SATCAT = 58753
| website = {{URL|https://ep.bao.ac.cn/ep/}}
| mission_duration = 3 years (planned)<br/>{{time interval|9 January 2024}} (ongoing)
| spacecraft = Einstein Probe
| spacecraft_type =
| spacecraft_bus = Phoenix-Eye-2
| manufacturer = [[Chinese Academy of Sciences|CAS]]
| launch_mass = {{cvt|1450|kg}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Einstein_Probe_factsheet |title=Einstein Probe factsheet |access-date=10 January 2024 |work=ESA}}</ref>
| payload_mass =
| dimensions = {{cvt|3|xx|3.4|m}}
| launch_date = 9 January 2024, 07:02 UTC<ref name="esa-20240109"/>
| launch_rocket = [[Long March 2C]]<ref name="esa-20240109"/>
| launch_site = [[Xichang Satellite Launch Center|Xichang]] LC-3
| launch_contractor = [[China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation|CASC]]
| orbit_reference = [[Geocentric orbit]]
| orbit_regime = [[Low Earth orbit]]
| orbit_periapsis = 581 km
| orbit_apoapsis = 596 km
| orbit_inclination = 29°
| orbit_period = 96 minutes
| apsis = gee
| instruments = Wide-field X-ray Telescope (WXT)<br>Follow-up X-ray Telescope (FXT)
| insignia = File:Einstein Probe logo.png
| insignia_caption = Einstein Probe Logo
| insignia_size = 200px
| programme =
| previous_mission =
| next_mission =
}}
⚫
The '''Einstein Probe''' (EP) is an [[X-ray]] [[space telescope]] mission by [[Chinese Academy of Sciences]] (CAS) in partnership with [[European Space Agency]] (ESA) and the [[Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics]] (MPE) dedicated to time-domain [[high-energy astrophysics]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Einstein Probe in a nutshell |url=https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2023/12/Einstein_Probe_in_a_nutshell |website=www.esa.int |access-date=28 December 2023 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="factsheet">{{cite web |title=Einstein Probe factsheet |url=https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Einstein_Probe_factsheet |website=www.esa.int |access-date=28 December 2023 |language=en}}</ref> The primary goals are "to discover high-energy transients and monitor variable objects".<ref>{{cite web |title=Einstein Probe Time Domain Astronomical Information Center |url=https://ep.bao.ac.cn/ep/ |website=ep.bao.ac.cn |access-date=28 December 2023}}</ref> The telescope was launched by a [[Long March 2C]] rocket from the [[Xichang Satellite Launch Centre]] in China, on 9 January 2024, at 07:03 [[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://spacenews.com/china-launches-lobster-eye-einstein-probe-to-unveil-mysteries-of-x-ray-universe/|title=China launches “lobster eye” Einstein Probe to unveil mysteries of X-ray universe|first=Andrew |last=Jones|date=January 9, 2024|website=spacenews.com}}</ref>


== Scientific objectives ==
⚫
FXT has optics adopted from [[eROSITA]], "the mirror module consists of 54 nested [[Wolter telescope|Wolter mirror]]s with a focal length of 1600 mm and an effective area of greater than 300 cm2 at 1.5 keV."<ref name="mpg"/> WXT has a new optics design, called "[[lobster eye optics|lobster-eye]]", that has wider field of view.<ref name="factsheet"/><ref name="mpg"/> "Lobster-eye" optics was first tested by the [[Lobster Eye Imager for Astronomy]] (LEIA) mission, launched in 2022.<ref name="factsheet"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Einstein Probe Time Domain Astronomical Information Center |url=https://ep.bao.ac.cn/ep/cms/article/view?id=91 |website=ep.bao.ac.cn |access-date=28 December 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.space.com/china-lobster-eye-x-ray-telescope-1st-images|title=China tests novel 'lobster eye' X-ray telescope for observing cosmic events|first=Andrew |last=Jones|date=November 25, 2022|website=Space.com}}</ref>
The primary science objectives are:<ref>{{cite web|access-date=14 January 2024|language=en|title=Science Objectives Overview |url=https://ep.bao.ac.cn/ep/cms/article/view?id=19|website=Einstein Probe}}</ref>
# Identify inactive [[black hole]]s to study how matter is precipitated there by detecting the transient events that take the form of X-ray flares;
# Detect the electromagnetic counterpart of events triggering gravitational waves such as the [[Neutron star merger|merger of neutron stars]] which will be discovered by the next generation of gravitational wave detectors;
# Carry out permanent monitoring of the entire sky to detect the various transient phenomena and carry out measurements of known variable X-ray sources.


== Instruments ==
A preliminary mission, [[Wide-field X-ray Telescope]] (WXT) (also known as EP-WXT-pathfinder), was launched in July 2022.<ref name=WXT-map>[https://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Astronomers_obtain_skys_large_field_X_ray_maps_999.html ''Astronomers obtain sky's large-field X-ray maps'']</ref>
Einstein Probe carries 2 scientific instruments: the Wide-field X-ray Telescope (WXT), and the Follow-up X-ray Telescope (FXT).<ref name="mpg">{{cite web |title=EinsteinProbe |url=https://www.mpe.mpg.de/7867826/EinsteinProbe |website=www.mpe.mpg.de |access-date=28 December 2023 |language=en}}</ref> Both telescopes utilize X-ray focusing optics.

⚫
* Wide-field X-ray Telescope (WXT): WXT has a new optics design, called "[[lobster eye optics|lobster-eye]]", that has wider field of view.<ref name="factsheet"/><ref name="mpg"/> "Lobster-eye" optics was first tested by the [[Lobster Eye Imager for Astronomy]] (LEIA) mission, launched in 2022.<ref name="factsheet"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Einstein Probe Time Domain Astronomical Information Center |url=https://ep.bao.ac.cn/ep/cms/article/view?id=91 |website=ep.bao.ac.cn |access-date=28 December 2023 |archive-date=28 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231228121939/https://ep.bao.ac.cn/ep/cms/article/view?id=91 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.space.com/china-lobster-eye-x-ray-telescope-1st-images|title=China tests novel 'lobster eye' X-ray telescope for observing cosmic events|first=Andrew |last=Jones|date=November 25, 2022|website=Space.com}}</ref> WXT consists of 12 [[Lobster-eye optics]] sensor modules, together creating a very large instantaneous [[Field of view|field-of-view]] of 3600 [[Square degree|square degrees]]. The nominal detection bandpass of WXT is 0.5~4.0 [[Electronvolt|keV]]. Each module weighs 17 kg and has an electrical power consumption of just under 13 W. With the peripherals, the entire telescope weighs 251 kg and has a power consumption of 315 W.

* Follow-up X-ray Telescope (FXT): FXT has optics adopted from [[eROSITA]], "the mirror module consists of 54 nested [[Wolter telescope|Wolter mirror]]s with a focal length of 1600 mm and an effective area of greater than 300 cm2 at 1.5 [[Electronvolt|keV]]."<ref name="mpg"/>


The probe weights 1450 kg and is 3-by-3.4 metres.<ref name="factsheet"/>
The probe weights 1450 kg and is 3-by-3.4 metres.<ref name="factsheet"/>


== Launch ==
EP is planned to be launched in January 2024 by [[Chang Zheng]] rocket from the [[Xichang Satellite Launch Centre]] in China, and will be placed to [[low Earth orbit]].<ref name="factsheet"/>
Einstein Probe was launched on 9 January 2024, at 07:03 [[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]] by a [[Long March 2C]] rocket from the [[Xichang Satellite Launch Centre]] in China, and successfully placed in [[low Earth orbit]] at an altitude of 600 km<ref name="esa-20240109">{{Cite web|url=https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2024/01/Einstein_Probe_lifts_off_on_a_mission_to_monitor_the_X-ray_sky|title=Einstein Probe lifts off on a mission to monitor the X-ray sky|website=www.esa.int}}</ref> and an inclination of 29 degrees, giving an orbital period of 96 minutes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Technical details for satellite EINSTEIN PROBE |url=https://www.n2yo.com//satellite/?s=58753 |access-date=2024-03-07 |website=N2YO.com - Real Time Satellite Tracking and Predictions}}</ref>

== First results ==
CAS reported that EP "performs as expected in the first month".<ref>{{cite web |title=Time Domain Astronomical Information Center |url=https://ep.bao.ac.cn/ep/cms/article/view?id=157 |website=ep.bao.ac.cn |access-date=13 April 2024}}</ref> The probe detected fast [[X-ray transient]] EP240315a,<ref>{{cite web |title=Time Domain Astronomical Information Center |url=https://ep.bao.ac.cn/ep/cms/article/view?id=163 |website=ep.bao.ac.cn |access-date=13 April 2024}}</ref> and [[bright X-ray flare]]s EP240305a<ref>{{cite web |title=Time Domain Astronomical Information Center |url=https://ep.bao.ac.cn/ep/cms/article/view?id=162 |website=ep.bao.ac.cn |access-date=13 April 2024}}</ref> and EPW20240219aa.<ref>{{cite web |title=Time Domain Astronomical Information Center |url=https://ep.bao.ac.cn/ep/cms/article/view?id=158 |website=ep.bao.ac.cn |access-date=13 April 2024}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Timeline of artificial satellites and space probes]]
* [[List of things named after Albert Einstein]]
* [[X-ray astronomy]]
* [[List of space telescopes#X-ray]]


== References ==
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist|30em}}


== Further reading ==
== Further reading ==
* {{cite arxiv |last1=Yuan |first1=Weimin |last2=Zhang |first2=Chen |last3=Chen |first3=Yong |last4=Ling |first4=Zhixing |title=The Einstein Probe Mission |date=2022 |pages=1–30 |arxiv=2209.09763 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Yuan |first1=Weimin |last2=Zhang |first2=Chen |last3=Chen |first3=Yong |last4=Ling |first4=Zhixing |title=Handbook of X-ray and Gamma-ray Astrophysics |chapter=The Einstein Probe Mission |date=2022 |pages=1–30 |doi=10.1007/978-981-16-4544-0_151-1 |arxiv=2209.09763 |isbn=978-981-16-4544-0 }}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Einstein Probe}}
*{{Official website}} at [[National Astronomical Observatories of China|NAOC]], [[Chinese Academy of Sciences|CAS]]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220102002415/http://ep.bao.ac.cn/ |date=January 02, 2022 }}
*[https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Einstein_Probe_factsheet Einstein Probe] at ESA.int
*[https://www.mpe.mpg.de/7867826/EinsteinProbe Einstein Probe] at MPE.MPG.de


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{{Space observatories|state=collapsed}}
{{Chinese spacecraft}}
{{Orbital launches in 2024}}
{{Authority control}}
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[[Category:Space telescopes]]
[[Category:Space telescopes]]
[[Category:X-ray telescopes]]
[[Category:X-ray telescopes]]
[[Category:2024 in spaceflight]]
[[Category:2024 in spaceflight]]
[[Category:Chinese Academy of Sciences]]
[[Category:Chinese telescopes|E]]
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Latest revision as of 15:18, 13 April 2024

Not to be confused with Einstein Observatory.
Einstein Probe
Einstein Probe artist impression
NamesAiyinsitan Tanzhen
Mission typeSpace observatory
OperatorCAS, ESA
COSPAR ID2024-007A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.58753
Websiteep.bao.ac.cn/ep/
Mission duration3 years (planned)
4 months and 27 days (ongoing)
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftEinstein Probe
BusPhoenix-Eye-2
ManufacturerCAS
Launch mass1,450 kg (3,200 lb)[1]
Dimensions3 × 3.4 m (9.8 × 11.2 ft)
Start of mission
Launch date9 January 2024, 07:02 UTC[2]
RocketLong March 2C[2]
Launch siteXichang LC-3
ContractorCASC
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric orbit
RegimeLow Earth orbit
Perigee altitude581 km
Apogee altitude596 km
Inclination29°
Period96 minutes
Instruments
Wide-field X-ray Telescope (WXT)
Follow-up X-ray Telescope (FXT)

Einstein Probe Logo  

The Einstein Probe (EP) is an X-ray space telescope mission by Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in partnership with European Space Agency (ESA) and the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics (MPE) dedicated to time-domain high-energy astrophysics.[3][4] The primary goals are "to discover high-energy transients and monitor variable objects".[5] The telescope was launched by a Long March 2C rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in China, on 9 January 2024, at 07:03 UTC.[6]

Scientific objectives[edit]

The primary science objectives are:[7]

  1. Identify inactive black holes to study how matter is precipitated there by detecting the transient events that take the form of X-ray flares;
  2. Detect the electromagnetic counterpart of events triggering gravitational waves such as the merger of neutron stars which will be discovered by the next generation of gravitational wave detectors;
  3. Carry out permanent monitoring of the entire sky to detect the various transient phenomena and carry out measurements of known variable X-ray sources.

Instruments[edit]

Einstein Probe carries 2 scientific instruments: the Wide-field X-ray Telescope (WXT), and the Follow-up X-ray Telescope (FXT).[8] Both telescopes utilize X-ray focusing optics.

  • Wide-field X-ray Telescope (WXT): WXT has a new optics design, called "lobster-eye", that has wider field of view.[4][8] "Lobster-eye" optics was first tested by the Lobster Eye Imager for Astronomy (LEIA) mission, launched in 2022.[4][9][10] WXT consists of 12 Lobster-eye optics sensor modules, together creating a very large instantaneous field-of-view of 3600 square degrees. The nominal detection bandpass of WXT is 0.5~4.0 keV. Each module weighs 17 kg and has an electrical power consumption of just under 13 W. With the peripherals, the entire telescope weighs 251 kg and has a power consumption of 315 W.
  • Follow-up X-ray Telescope (FXT): FXT has optics adopted from eROSITA, "the mirror module consists of 54 nested Wolter mirrors with a focal length of 1600 mm and an effective area of greater than 300 cm2 at 1.5 keV."[8]

The probe weights 1450 kg and is 3-by-3.4 metres.[4]

Launch[edit]

Einstein Probe was launched on 9 January 2024, at 07:03 UTC by a Long March 2C rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in China, and successfully placed in low Earth orbit at an altitude of 600 km[2] and an inclination of 29 degrees, giving an orbital period of 96 minutes.[11]

First results[edit]

CAS reported that EP "performs as expected in the first month".[12] The probe detected fast X-ray transient EP240315a,[13] and bright X-ray flares EP240305a[14] and EPW20240219aa.[15]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Einstein Probe factsheet". ESA. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "Einstein Probe lifts off on a mission to monitor the X-ray sky". www.esa.int.
  3. ^ "Einstein Probe in a nutshell". www.esa.int. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d "Einstein Probe factsheet". www.esa.int. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  5. ^ "Einstein Probe Time Domain Astronomical Information Center". ep.bao.ac.cn. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  6. ^ Jones, Andrew (January 9, 2024). "China launches "lobster eye" Einstein Probe to unveil mysteries of X-ray universe". spacenews.com.
  7. ^ "Science Objectives Overview". Einstein Probe. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  8. ^ a b c "EinsteinProbe". www.mpe.mpg.de. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  9. ^ "Einstein Probe Time Domain Astronomical Information Center". ep.bao.ac.cn. Archived from the original on 28 December 2023. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  10. ^ Jones, Andrew (November 25, 2022). "China tests novel 'lobster eye' X-ray telescope for observing cosmic events". Space.com.
  11. ^ "Technical details for satellite EINSTEIN PROBE". N2YO.com - Real Time Satellite Tracking and Predictions. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  12. ^ "Time Domain Astronomical Information Center". ep.bao.ac.cn. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  13. ^ "Time Domain Astronomical Information Center". ep.bao.ac.cn. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  14. ^ "Time Domain Astronomical Information Center". ep.bao.ac.cn. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  15. ^ "Time Domain Astronomical Information Center". ep.bao.ac.cn. Retrieved 13 April 2024.

Further reading[edit]

External links[edit]

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