A 42-light-year X-ray tail links a pulsar to previously 'orphan' gamma rays
Joint observations from China’s Einstein Probe satellite and the Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory identified an approximately 42-light-year X-ray tail near a pulsar about 4,600 light-years from Earth. The tail extends in the same direction as ultrahigh-energy gamma-ray emission detected by LHAASO, showing a close spatial match.
Joint observations from China’s Einstein Probe satellite and the Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory have revealed an approximately 42-light-year X-ray tail near a pulsar about 4,600 light-years from Earth.
The tail, which had not previously been seen in full, extends about 250 trillion miles and points in the same direction as ultrahigh-energy gamma-ray emission detected by LHAASO. The two emissions show a close spatial match.
The observations relate the pulsar to gamma-ray emission that had previously been described as “orphan” emission. The origin, acceleration and propagation of high-energy cosmic rays remain a century-old mystery in astrophysics.
THE QUESTIONS THIS EVENT LEAVES BEHIND
What physical process could account for the close spatial match between the X-ray tail and gamma-ray emission?
What observations would be needed to establish whether the pulsar produces the detected ultrahigh-energy gamma rays?
How might the findings affect explanations for the origin and propagation of high-energy cosmic rays?
What limitations could arise from observing the tail and gamma-ray emission from Earth?
YOUR QUESTION
Does this story leave you with another question?
Send us the question the report did not answer. It may become the next question IAQ investigates.
GLOBAL CURIOSITY MAP · AUGUST 2026