China's Tianguan Satellite Detects 'Fireworks' of the Universe

Nov 1, 2024, 07:17 AM

China's Einstein Probe satellite, officially named 'Tianguan', marked its in-orbit delivery on Thursday. Launched in December 2023, the satellite has detected 60 confirmed transient celestial bodies and over 480 stellar flares by September using lobster eye-inspired X-ray detection technology. The satellite has also observed bursts of high-energy light, termed 'fireworks of the universe', which may be caused by interactions involving black holes or neutron stars. This discovery could represent a previously unknown category of cosmic phenomena.