PSR B1509−58
Composite image: X-rays are gold; infrared in red, green and blue/max. Credit: Chandra X-ray Observatory, WISE | |
| Observation data Epoch J2000 Equinox J2000 | |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Circinus |
| Right ascension | 15h 13m 55.52s |
| Declination | −59° 08′ 08.8″ |
| Characteristics | |
| Spectral type | Pulsar |
| Astrometry | |
| Distance | 17,000 ly (5,200 ±1,400 pc) |
| Details | |
| Rotation | 0.1502 s |
| Other designations | |
| PSR 1509-58 | |
| Database references | |
| SIMBAD | data |
PSR B1509−58 is a pulsar approximately at a distance of 17,000 light-years in the constellation of Circinus discovered by the Einstein X-Ray Observatory in 1982. 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. The nebula spans about 150 light years. The 150 ms pulsations ("almost 7 times per second") are detected in the radio, X-ray, and γ-ray bands.
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". It is also known by the name "Hand of God". This phenomenon is called pareidolia.