TITLE:   GCN CIRCULAR
NUMBER:  45107
SUBJECT: EP260707a: Einstein Probe detection of an X-ray transient
DATE:    26/07/07 18:30:09 GMT
FROM:    EP Team at NAOC/CAS <ep_ta@bao.ac.cn>

H. Zhou, Y. F. Liang (PMO), K. R. Ni (CCNU), C.-K. Kan (HKU), H. Sun (NAO, CAS) on behalf of the Einstein Probe (EP) team:

We report on the detection of an X-ray transient by the Wide-field X-ray Telescope (WXT) on board the Einstein Probe (EP) mission, designated EP260707a. The transient triggered EP-WXT (ID: 01709274241) at 2026-07-07T16:45:24 (UTC). The WXT position of the source is R.A. = 306.233 deg, DEC = -26.589 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) was performed automatically. Within the WXT error circle, an uncatalogued X-ray source was detected at R.A. = 306.1900 deg, DEC = -26.5853 deg (J2000) with an uncertainty of 20 arcsec in radius (90% C.L. statistical and systematic).

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).