The Einstein probe is a small orbital telescope operating in the X-ray range. Scientists recently published an article about an unexpected flare of radiation that was detected by Einstein back in September 2024.
X-ray flare
On December 18, 2025, a study appeared on the arXiv preprint server, in which the authors reported that they had solved the mystery of the EP J2322.1-0301 X-ray flare, which reached Earth on September 27, 2024.
The flare was too weak to pass through Earth’s atmosphere and harm living creatures, but strong enough to be detected by the Einstein X-ray telescope. This small spacecraft has been orbiting our planet for several years.
The main question regarding EP J2322.1-0301 was determining its source. Scientists were able to answer this question. By comparing the coordinates of the location from which the signal originated, they determined that its source was the star PM J23221-0301, located about 150 light-years away from us.
Star PM J23221-0301
By cosmic standards, PM J23221-0301 is located relatively close to us. It is an orange dwarf that is about 30% lighter and smaller than the Sun. Its surface temperature is 4055 K, and its age is estimated at 1.2 billion years.
PM J23221-0301 was previously known as a source of X-ray radiation, but soft and stable. Here, scientists were dealing with an event that unfolded over two Earth days. First, there was an increase in brightness in the X-ray range for 0.4 days, followed by a decline for 1.4 days.
Researchers have proven that EP J2322.1-0301 was a flare that occurred on a star. It was very similar to a solar flare, but much more powerful. The fact that X-rays were emitted during the flare is also not unusual.
In fact, they are emitted during any process involving powerful electric currents. Our Sun also emits them, but in smaller quantities. It’s just that PM J23221-0301 has a much more powerful magnetic field for some reason.
According to phys.org
