“天关”卫星捕捉到黑洞“进食”现场

Core Viewpoint - The "Tian Guan" satellite has captured an unprecedented astronomical event, designated EP250702a, which is believed to be a medium-mass black hole tearing apart and consuming a white dwarf star, marking the first time such an extreme black hole "feeding" event has been observed by humanity [1][5]. Group 1: Discovery and Observation - The "Tian Guan" satellite, equipped with the wide-field X-ray telescope WXT, detected a sudden and bright transient source during routine sky surveys on July 2, 2025 [3]. - This event, EP250702a, exhibited brightness variations and radiation patterns that are significantly different from any previously known outbursts, prompting a global observational effort using multiple telescopes [1][4]. Group 2: Scientific Explanation - The research team proposed a coherent physical model suggesting that a medium-mass black hole, with a mass between hundreds to hundreds of thousands of solar masses, is capable of tearing apart a dense white dwarf star using tidal forces [5]. - The expected energy release from this process is extremely brief and intense, accompanied by bright and rapid jets, aligning perfectly with the characteristics observed in EP250702a [5]. Group 3: Significance and Contribution - The discovery of EP250702a highlights the unique monitoring capabilities of the "Tian Guan" satellite, showcasing China's contributions to global astronomical exploration [5]. - The event serves as a testament to the satellite's mission to capture unpredictable extreme transient phenomena in the universe [5].