X-ray transient EP260214a detected by Einstein Probe WXT with follow-up observations.

AI Summary

An X-ray transient was detected by the Einstein Probe WXT on February 14, 2026, followed by precise localization with FXT and subsequent multi-wavelength observations including radio detection and optical upper limits.

Notices (1)

Einstein Probe WXT — GRB · Sat, 14 Feb 2026 20:38:04 GMT

GCN Circulars (9)

GCN-43862 — EP260214a · Fri, 27 Feb 2026 09:53:25 GMT
Astronomers from Sapienza University of Rome observed the field of EP260214a using the FORS2 imager on the ESO VLT UT1 (Antu) 11.3 days after the initial EP/WXT trigger. They detected a faint source with a magnitude of approximately 26 AB mag at the position of a reported radio counterpart. The chance alignment of this source with the candidate radio counterpart is estimated to be only 1%.

GCN-43845 — EP260214a · Thu, 26 Feb 2026 14:15:11 GMT
Astronomical alert: EP260214a: VLA 6 GHz detection

GCN-43761 — EP260214a · Mon, 16 Feb 2026 10:22:14 GMT
A team of astronomers led by A. Aryan at National Central University reported non-detection of optical emission from the fast X-ray transient EP260214a using the 40cm SLT at the Lulin observatory as part of the Kinder collaboration. The observation was conducted 0.13 hours after the X-ray trigger and used the AutoPhOT package for template subtraction and PSF photometry. The team did not detect any new or uncataloged sources within the localization circle and measured a 3-sigma upper limit of >20.6 mag in the r-band. The non-detection is consistent with previous reports.

GCN-43754 — EP260214a · Sun, 15 Feb 2026 15:07:18 GMT
Astronomers using the 2.56-m Nordic Optical Telescope reported no new optical source detected within the error circle of EP260214a, setting 5-sigma upper limits of r ~ 23.1 and z ~ 21.8 for its magnitude.

GCN-43753 — EP260214a · Sun, 15 Feb 2026 14:43:58 GMT
A team of astronomers led by Rosa L. Becerra from UNAM reported non-detection of a new source at the position of EP260214a using the DDRAGO imager on the COLIBRÍ telescope. They obtained 53 minutes of exposure in r and z filters and derived 3-sigma upper limits of r > 23.6 and z > 22.2 magnitudes. These limits are consistent with the ones reported by SVOM/VT.

GCN-43751 — EP260214a · Sun, 15 Feb 2026 13:22:15 GMT
The Einstein Probe (EP) mission detected a new X-ray transient, EP260214a, which triggered observations by the Wide-field X-ray Telescope (WXT) and the Follow-up X-ray Telescope (FXT). The event occurred on 2026-02-14 and lasted approximately 60 seconds. The WXT data showed an absorbed power law spectrum with a photon index of 0.8 and an average unabsorbed flux of 9.7×10^-12 erg/s/cm^2. The FXT observation, performed 2.5 minutes later, revealed an uncatalogued source with a photon index of 2.3 and an average unabsorbed flux of 1.4×10^-12 erg/s/cm^2. The FXT data also located the source at RA = 201.2305, Dec = -29.0431 (J2000) with an uncertainty of 10 arcsec.

GCN-43746 — EP260214a · Sun, 15 Feb 2026 06:31:32 GMT
The SVOM/VT team reported no detection of EP260214a, a transient phenomenon detected by the Einstein Probe, during a Target of Opportunity observation using the Space Variable Objects Monitor (SVOM) in the VT_B and VT_R channels. The 3 sigma limit magnitudes were determined to be greater than 23.6 mag in VT_B and 23.3 mag in VT_R.

GCN-43743 — EP260214a · Sun, 15 Feb 2026 03:18:24 GMT
The MASTER-Kislovodsk robotic telescope in Russia observed EP260214a, an astronomical event, 21,982 seconds after the trigger time with an upper limit magnitude of 17.3 in the clear filter. The observation began at a zenith distance of 76 degrees and sun altitude of -16 degrees.

GCN-43742 — EP260214a · Sun, 15 Feb 2026 02:39:30 GMT
The Einstein Probe mission, an X-ray observatory launched in 2024, has detected an X-ray transient designated EP260214a using its Wide-field X-ray Telescope (WXT). The transient, located at R.A. = 201.250 deg, DEC = -29.040 deg (J2000), triggered the WXT and was followed up with the Follow-up X-ray Telescope (FXT), which detected an uncatalogued X-ray source at R.A. = 201.2326 deg, DEC = -29.0457 deg (J2000) with a smaller uncertainty. Further information will be provided once telemetry data is received.