The Einstein Probe is a groundbreaking mission that will significantly advance our understanding of the violent and energetic processes in the universe. The spacecraft is equipped with a unique “lobster eye” camera designed to study high-energy X-rays produced by powerful cosmic events, such as feeding black holes, colliding neutron stars, and supernovas.
The Einstein Probe’s Primary Instruments
The spacecraft’s primary instruments include the Wide-field X-ray Telescope (WXT), which has an extraordinarily wide view of the sky thanks to its modular design inspired by the lobster eye. This design allows the WXT to observe nearly one-tenth of the celestial sphere over Earth in a single glance, making it an ideal tool for spotting short-lived X-ray sources. The spacecraft’s second primary payload is the Follow-up X-ray Telescope, which can zoom in on X-ray sources identified by the WXT and study them in much greater detail.