GCN Circular 44323
Subject
EP260417b: Einstein Probe detection of a fast X-ray transient
Event
Date
2026-04-17T08:45:52Z (22 days ago)
From
EP Team at NAOC/CAS <ep_ta@bao.ac.cn>
Via
Web form
K. R. Ni (CCNU), Y. Q. Zhao (USTC; PRIC), Y. L. Wang (NAO, CAS; ICE, CSIC) and Z. X. Ling (NAO, CAS) on behalf of the Einstein Probe (EP) team:
We report on the detection of a fast X-ray transient by the Wide-field X-ray Telescope (WXT) on board the Einstein Probe (EP) mission, designated EP260417b. The ground analysis of the WXT data shows that the event started at T0 = 2026-04-17T01:21:04 (UTC) and lasted for around 230 s. The WXT position of the source is R.A. = 151.114 deg, DEC = 51.964 deg (J2000) with an uncertainty of 3 arcmin in radius (90% C.L. statistical and systematic).
A follow-up observation with the Follow-up X-ray Telescope (FXT) on board EP has been scheduled. Further information will be updated when the telemetry data is received.
Launched on January 9, 2024, EP is a space X-ray observatory to monitor the soft X-ray sky with X-ray follow-up capability (Yuan et al. 2022, Handbook of X-ray and Gamma-ray Astrophysics).