PSR B1509−58

PSR B1509−58

Composite image: X-rays from Chandra are gold; infrared from WISE in red, green and blue/max.
Observation data Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation	Circinus
Right ascension	15h 13m 55.52s[1]
Declination	−59° 08′ 08.8″[1]
Characteristics
Spectral type	Pulsar
Astrometry
Distance	17,000 ly (5,200 ±1,400 pc)
Details
Rotation	0.1502 s[1]
Other designations
PSR 1509-58[1]
Database references
SIMBAD	data

PSR B1509−58 is a pulsar approximately 17,000 light-years away in the constellation of Circinus discovered by the Einstein X-Ray Observatory in 1982.^[2] Its diameter is only 12 miles (19 km). It is located in a Pulsar wind nebula created by itself, that was caused as a remnant of the Supernova (SNR) MSH 15−52 visual approximately 1,700 years ago at the southern celestial hemisphere not visible in the northern hemisphere.^[3][4] The nebula spans about 150 light years.^[5] The pulsar's spin rate is "almost 7 times per second".

NASA described the star as "a rapidly spinning neutron star which is spewing energy out into the space around it to create complex and intriguing structures, including one that resembles a large cosmic hand".^[6] It is also known by the name "Hand of God".^[7] This phenomenon is called pareidolia.

• Tour of PSR B1509−58.
• Sequence of PSR B1509−58 images.
• Size comparisons: PSR B1509−58 and Crab Nebula.

• List of neutron stars
• Pulsar planet

Media related to PSR B1509-58 at Wikimedia Commons

• Chandra X-ray Center (CXO): Young Pulsar Shows Its Hand, Science Daily, 5 May 2009, retrieved 15 November 2024
• Chandra X-ray Observatory blog