Chinese scientists have, for the first time ever, sent back the X-ray images of a full moon shot from space using the Einstein Probe (EP) satellite on Tuesday, coinciding with the moon-themed traditional Mid-Autumn Festival.
The images were captured by the follow-up X-ray telescope FXT aboard the satellite, showcasing the moon's appearances in X-ray spectrum, which differ from its typical images.
The FXT telescope was developed under the leadership of the the Institute of High Energy Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Compared to other X-ray satellites, the FXT telescope boasts a large imaging field, excellent X-ray energy resolution, and a high effective area.
It can reveal the distribution of elements such as oxygen, iron, magnesium, aluminum and silicon on the lunar surface, holding significant value for conducting lunar-related scientific research.
China sends back X-ray images of full Moon from space for first time
Floodwaters in Lithia, a severely affected area in the southeastern U.S. state of Florida by Hurricane Milton, have not receded yet even four days after the landfall of the hurricane.
Milton hit the west-central coast of Florida as a Category 3 storm on Wednesday night, bringing strong winds, destructive tornadoes, and heavy rains before weakening to a Category 1 as it swiftly barreled across central Florida.
Lithia, situated southwest of Tampa, bore the brunt of the hurricane as it was right in the the path of Milton.
The heavy rainfall triggered by Milton swelled local rivers, resulting in flooding and the submersion of numerous homes, with many areas in Lithia still drenching in floodwaters.
"Milton came through and wrecked it. The storm didn't do too much of the flooding after the fact. About 12 hours after the storm, the water was in my backyard, didn't think it was going to get much higher 36 hours after the storm. Way better than a lot of people behind me, hopefully they're okay behind. But yeah, I got my neighbors. I think they got probably four or five, maybe six feet of water in the house, that yellow house over there," said Vladimir, a resident affected by the floods in Lithia.
Vladimir also said that they have not received any government assistance so far, with only local community organizations offering some food and water to the affected residents.
In parts of western and central Florida, river levels may continue to rise, with multiple areas still under flood alerts.
Rescue agencies caution that the floods are likely to impede the progress of post-disaster relief efforts. By Sunday afternoon, over 840,000 households in Florida were still without power, with almost 30 percent of gas stations unable to provide fuel.
Milton is the fifth hurricane hitting the Gulf Coast so far in 2024, with three of them striking Florida.
Floodwaters linger in Florida's hard-hit area days after Hurricane Milton's landfall
Floodwaters linger in Florida's hard-hit area days after Hurricane Milton's landfall