The Hand in Space Nebula: A Cosmic Spectacle
In 2009, NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory gifted us with a truly captivating image: a pulsar and its surrounding nebula, remarkably shaped like a human hand. This celestial marvel, known as MSH 15-52, has continued to fascinate astronomers, drawing further observation from both Chandra and other powerful telescopes.
A New Perspective
Recently, new radio data from the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) has been skillfully combined with Chandra's X-ray data. This fusion of observations provides a fresh and insightful view of this exploded star and its environment, helping scientists unravel its peculiar properties and distinctive shape.
The Heart of the Nebula
At the very center of this breathtaking new image lies the pulsar B1509-58. This is a rapidly spinning neutron star, incredibly dense, and measuring only about 12 miles in diameter. Despite its minuscule size, this stellar remnant is the powerful engine behind the creation of the intricate nebula.
An Expansive Cosmic Hand
The nebula itself, MSH 15-52, spans an astonishing 150 light-years across – a distance equivalent to roughly 900 trillion miles! This vast expanse of gas and energy, produced by energetic particles ejected from the pulsar, takes on the unmistakable form of a human hand. In the X-ray data, the "palm" and "fingers" of this cosmic appendage point towards the upper right, a testament to the directional forces at play.
Credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/Univ. of Hong Kong/S. Zhang et al. Radio: ATNF/CSIRO/ATCA; H-alpha: UK STFC/Royal Observatory Edinburgh Image Processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/N. Wolk
