NASA X-ray Telescopes Reveal the 'Bones' of a Ghostly Cosmic Hand

NASA X-ray Telescopes Reveal the 'Bones' of a Ghostly Cosmic Hand

Handout - In 2001, NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory first observed the pulsar PSR B1509-58 and revealed that its pulsar wind nebula (referred to as MSH 15-52) resembles a human hand. Scientists say they have revealed the "bones" of a ghostly cosmic hand. Two of NASA’s X-ray space telescopes have combined their imaging powers to unveil the magnetic field “bones” of a remarkable hand-shaped structure in space. The space agency says that together these telescopes reveal the behaviour of a dead collapsed star that lives on through plumes of particles of energised matter and antimatter. In 2001, NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory first observed the pulsar PSR B1509-58 and revealed that its pulsar wind nebula (referred to as MSH 15-52) resembles a human hand. The pulsar is located at the base of the “palm” of the nebula, while MSH 15-52 is located 16,000 light-years from Earth. Now, NASA’s newest X-ray telescope, the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE), has observed MSH 15-52 for about 17 days, the longest it h

  • Product Code
  • ILEA001933349
  • Registered date
  • 2023/10/31 00:00:00
  • Credit
  • Abaca Press / Kyodo News Images
  • Media source
  • ABACA
  • Media size
  • 3600 × 3463 pixel
  • Resolution
  • 300 dpi
  • Deployment size
  • 1.04(MB)*
  • Special instruction

*File size when opened in Photoshop, etc.

Similar Images & Videos
    Hubble Spots the Little Dumbbell Nebula

    Hubble Spots the Little Dumbbell Nebula

    Handout - In celebration of the 34th anniversary of the launch of NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, astronomers took a snapshot of the Little Dumbbell Nebula, also known as Messier 76, or M76, located 3,400 light-years away in the northern circumpolar constellation Perseus. The name ‘Little Dumbbell’ comes from its shape that is a two-lobed structure of colorful, mottled, glowing gases resembling a balloon that’s been pinched around a middle waist. Like an inflating balloon, the lobes are expanding into space from a dying star seen as a white dot in the center. Blistering ultraviolet radiation from the super-hot star is causing the gases to glow. The red color is from nitrogen, and blue is from oxygen. Photo by NASA, ESA, STScI via ABACAPRESS.COM
      NASA's Webb Reveals New Features in Heart of Milky Way

      NASA's Webb Reveals New Features in Heart of Milky Way

      Handout photo - The latest image from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope shows a portion of the dense center of our galaxy in unprecedented detail, including never-before-seen features astronomers have yet to explain. The star-forming region, named Sagittarius C (Sgr C), is about 300 light-years from the Milky Way's central supermassive black hole, Sagittarius A. Approximate outlines help to define the features in the Sagittarius C (Sgr C) region. Astronomers are studying data from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope to understand the relationship between these features, as well as other influences in the chaotic galaxy center. The James Webb Space Telescope is the world’s premier space science observatory. Webb is solving mysteries in our solar system, looking beyond to distant worlds around other stars, and probing the mysterious structures and origins of our universe and our place in it. Webb is an international program led by NASA with its partners, ESA (European Space Agency) and the Canadian Space Agency.
        Stunning First Full-Colour Images From Euclid Telescope

        Stunning First Full-Colour Images From Euclid Telescope

        HANDOUT - Irregular galaxy NGC 6822. The European Space Agency's (ESA) Euclid space mission unveiled its first five full-colour images of the cosmos on Tuesday, November 7, 2023. Launched in July, Euclid is a cutting-edge telescope tasked with mapping a third of the extragalactic sky, shedding light on how dark matter and dark energy shape our universe. This ambitious mission is unique in its ability to capture razor-sharp astronomical images across a vast expanse of the sky, offering unprecedented insights into the far reaches of the universe. The initial set of images serves as a testament to Euclid's unparalleled capability to construct the most extensive 3D map of the universe to date. Among the images, the most captivating is a panoramic view of the Horsehead Nebula, also known as Barnard 33, situated in the Orion constellation approximately 1,375 light-years away. The nebula, with its striking equine shape, stands as the nearest giant star-forming region to Earth. Positioned just south of the prominent
          Stunning First Full-Colour Images From Euclid Telescope

          Stunning First Full-Colour Images From Euclid Telescope

          HANDOUT - The Perseus Cluster of galaxies. The European Space Agency's (ESA) Euclid space mission unveiled its first five full-colour images of the cosmos on Tuesday, November 7, 2023. Launched in July, Euclid is a cutting-edge telescope tasked with mapping a third of the extragalactic sky, shedding light on how dark matter and dark energy shape our universe. This ambitious mission is unique in its ability to capture razor-sharp astronomical images across a vast expanse of the sky, offering unprecedented insights into the far reaches of the universe. The initial set of images serves as a testament to Euclid's unparalleled capability to construct the most extensive 3D map of the universe to date. Among the images, the most captivating is a panoramic view of the Horsehead Nebula, also known as Barnard 33, situated in the Orion constellation approximately 1,375 light-years away. The nebula, with its striking equine shape, stands as the nearest giant star-forming region to Earth. Positioned just south of the prom
            Stunning First Full-Colour Images From Euclid Telescope

            Stunning First Full-Colour Images From Euclid Telescope

            HANDOUT - Spiral galaxy IC 342. The European Space Agency's (ESA) Euclid space mission unveiled its first five full-colour images of the cosmos on Tuesday, November 7, 2023. Launched in July, Euclid is a cutting-edge telescope tasked with mapping a third of the extragalactic sky, shedding light on how dark matter and dark energy shape our universe. This ambitious mission is unique in its ability to capture razor-sharp astronomical images across a vast expanse of the sky, offering unprecedented insights into the far reaches of the universe. The initial set of images serves as a testament to Euclid's unparalleled capability to construct the most extensive 3D map of the universe to date. Among the images, the most captivating is a panoramic view of the Horsehead Nebula, also known as Barnard 33, situated in the Orion constellation approximately 1,375 light-years away. The nebula, with its striking equine shape, stands as the nearest giant star-forming region to Earth. Positioned just south of the prominent star
              Stunning First Full-Colour Images From Euclid Telescope

              Stunning First Full-Colour Images From Euclid Telescope

              HANDOUT - his image shows: Globular cluster NGC 6397. The European Space Agency's (ESA) Euclid space mission unveiled its first five full-colour images of the cosmos on Tuesday, November 7, 2023. Launched in July, Euclid is a cutting-edge telescope tasked with mapping a third of the extragalactic sky, shedding light on how dark matter and dark energy shape our universe. This ambitious mission is unique in its ability to capture razor-sharp astronomical images across a vast expanse of the sky, offering unprecedented insights into the far reaches of the universe. The initial set of images serves as a testament to Euclid's unparalleled capability to construct the most extensive 3D map of the universe to date. Among the images, the most captivating is a panoramic view of the Horsehead Nebula, also known as Barnard 33, situated in the Orion constellation approximately 1,375 light-years away. The nebula, with its striking equine shape, stands as the nearest giant star-forming region to Earth. Positioned just south
                Stunning First Full-Colour Images From Euclid Telescope

                Stunning First Full-Colour Images From Euclid Telescope

                HANDOUT - The Horse's Head Nebula. The European Space Agency's (ESA) Euclid space mission unveiled its first five full-colour images of the cosmos on Tuesday, November 7, 2023. Launched in July, Euclid is a cutting-edge telescope tasked with mapping a third of the extragalactic sky, shedding light on how dark matter and dark energy shape our universe. This ambitious mission is unique in its ability to capture razor-sharp astronomical images across a vast expanse of the sky, offering unprecedented insights into the far reaches of the universe. The initial set of images serves as a testament to Euclid's unparalleled capability to construct the most extensive 3D map of the universe to date. Among the images, the most captivating is a panoramic view of the Horsehead Nebula, also known as Barnard 33, situated in the Orion constellation approximately 1,375 light-years away. The nebula, with its striking equine shape, stands as the nearest giant star-forming region to Earth. Positioned just south of the prominent st
                  NASA X-ray Telescopes Reveal the 'Bones' of a Ghostly Cosmic Hand

                  NASA X-ray Telescopes Reveal the 'Bones' of a Ghostly Cosmic Hand

                  Handout - New composite image showing pulsar wind nebula (referred to as MSH 15-52) resembling a human hand, combining Chandra telescope data (seen in orange (low-energy X-rays), green, and blue (higher-energy X-rays)), while the diffuse purple represents the IXPE X-ray telescope observations. This image shows vectors that represent the magnetic field “bones” revealed by the two X-ray space telescopes. Scientists say they have revealed the "bones" of a ghostly cosmic hand. Two of NASA’s X-ray space telescopes have combined their imaging powers to unveil the magnetic field “bones” of a remarkable hand-shaped structure in space. The space agency says that together these telescopes reveal the behaviour of a dead collapsed star that lives on through plumes of particles of energised matter and antimatter. In 2001, NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory first observed the pulsar PSR B1509-58 and revealed that its pulsar wind nebula (referred to as MSH 15-52) resembles a human hand. The pulsar is located at the base of th
                    NASA X-ray Telescopes Reveal the 'Bones' of a Ghostly Cosmic Hand

                    NASA X-ray Telescopes Reveal the 'Bones' of a Ghostly Cosmic Hand

                    Handout - New composite image showing pulsar wind nebula (referred to as MSH 15-52) resembling a human hand, combining Chandra telescope data (seen in orange (low-energy X-rays), green, and blue (higher-energy X-rays)), while the diffuse purple represents the IXPE X-ray telescope observations. Scientists say they have revealed the "bones" of a ghostly cosmic hand. Two of NASA’s X-ray space telescopes have combined their imaging powers to unveil the magnetic field “bones” of a remarkable hand-shaped structure in space. The space agency says that together these telescopes reveal the behaviour of a dead collapsed star that lives on through plumes of particles of energised matter and antimatter. In 2001, NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory first observed the pulsar PSR B1509-58 and revealed that its pulsar wind nebula (referred to as MSH 15-52) resembles a human hand. The pulsar is located at the base of the “palm” of the nebula, while MSH 15-52 is located 16,000 light-years from Earth. Now, NASA’s newest X-ray tele