Archive · 23 Aug 2025
NASA Unveils New Image of 'Cosmic Hand' Supernova Remnant
Imagine a star that exploded and left behind a tiny, super-powerful spinning object called a pulsar.
This pulsar creates a giant cloud of energy and particles, like a cosmic engine.
NASA took a picture of this cloud using special telescopes, and it looks like a giant hand in space!
The picture combines different types of light to show us the hand's details.
Scientists are learning more about how this hand was made and what it's made of.
It is helping them understand other exploding stars too!
NASA released a new image of a supernova remnant resembling a "cosmic hand."
The image combines X-ray data from Chandra with new radio observations from ATCA.
At the center is pulsar B1509-58, a rapidly rotating neutron star.
The nebula, MSH 15-52, stretches over 150 light-years and resembles a hand.
The data reveals contrasts in X-ray and radio emissions, offering insights into the object's properties.
- Who
- NASA is the source of the image and analysis.
- What
- NASA released a new image of a supernova remnant resembling a "cosmic hand".
- When
- The image was recently released.
- Where
- The object is in space, about 150 light-years across.
- Why
- To better understand the properties of the supernova remnant and the pulsar at its center.
- Object Type
- Supernova remnant and pulsar
- Pulsar Name
- B1509-58
- Nebula Name
- MSH 15-52
- Pulsar Diameter
- 12 miles (19.31 kilometers)
- Pulsar Rotation Speed
- Nearly seven times per second
- Nebula size
- 150 light-years