B1509-58 in SNR G320.4-1.2:
Chandra Examines A Quadrillion-volt Pulsar

This Chandra image gave astronomers their first view of the energetic and complex nebula surrounding the young pulsar PSR B1509-58. The blue and purple colors indicate X-rays emitted by high-energy particles of matter and anti-matter which stream away from the pulsar. The pulsar itself is the bright white source at the center of the nebula.

A thin jet, almost 20 light years in length, extends to the lower left, and traces a beam of particles being shot out from the pulsar's south pole at more than 130 million miles per hour. Just above the pulsar can be seen a small arc of X-ray emission, which marks a shock wave produced by particles flowing away from the pulsar's equator.

The green cloud near the top of the image is due to multimillion degree Celsius gas. This gas, possibly a remnant of the supernova explosion associated with the creation of the pulsar, may have been heated by collisions with high-energy particles produced by the pulsar.

Fast Facts for B1509-58 in SNR G320.4-1.2: Credit  NASA/MIT/B.Gaensler et al. Scale  Image is 10 x 14 arcmin across. Category  Supernovas & Supernova Remnants, Neutron Stars/X-ray Binaries Coordinates (J2000)  RA 15h 13m 55.60s | Dec -59° 08' 09.20" Constellation  Circinus Observation Dates  August 14, 2000 Observation Time  5 hours Obs. IDs  754 Color Code  Intensity Instrument  ACIS Distance Estimate  19,000 light years Release Date  September 06, 2001