The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) once shared a stunning image of a nebula of energy and particles blown by a pulsar left behind after a star exploded. The image blew people away as it looked like a human hand.&nbsp;

Shared by NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, the caption of the post on Instagram read: "This famous hand-shaped structure is a nebula of energy &amp; particles blown by a pulsar left behind after a star exploded."&nbsp;

"Watch as the blast wave from the explosion moves at nearly 9 million miles (14 million kilometres) per hour in NASA Chandra observations spanning 14 years," it had added.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/oh-crab-james-webb-reveals-never-before-seen-details-of-the-crab-nebula-653251">Oh, Crab! James Webb reveals never-before-seen details of the Crab Nebula</a>&nbsp;

Now, astronomers have used two of NASA's X-ray space telescopes, combining their imaging powers, to unveil the magnetic field "bones" of the hand-shaped structure.&nbsp;

NASA said in its report that the newest X-ray telescope, the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE), has observed MSH 15-52 for about 17 days.&nbsp;

As quoted by NASA, Roger Romani of Stanford University in California, who led the study, said: "The IXPE data gives us the first map of the magnetic field in the 'hand'. The charged particles producing the X-rays travel along the magnetic field, determining the basic shape of the nebula, like the bones do in a person's hand."&nbsp;

NASA said that according to IXPE, the magnetic field of the X-ray source determines the electric field direction of X-rays, which is called X-ray polarisation.&nbsp;

The degree of polarisation is exceptionally high in many sections of MSH 15-52, surpassing the maximum level predicted by the theoretical study.&nbsp;

That intensity requires a highly consistent and straight magnetic field, which implies that there is little turbulence in those areas of the pulsar wind nebula.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-launched-mission-to-20000-years-old-supernova-remnant-to-understand-life-cycles-of-stars-652966">NASA launches mission to 20,000-year-old supernova remnant to understand life cycle of stars</a>&nbsp;

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If you got it, haunt it. 
 
The "bones" of a ghostly cosmic hand from a pulsar wind nebula have been revealed by our <a href="https://twitter.com/chandraxray?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ChandraXRay</a> and IXPE space telescopes: <a href="https://t.co/umjVBb9Cdd">https://t.co/umjVBb9Cdd</a> <a href="https://t.co/0H4xGbJT4D">pic.twitter.com/0H4xGbJT4D</a>
— NASA (@NASA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA/status/1719094900312932694?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 30, 2023</a></blockquote>
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"We're all familiar with X-rays as a diagnostic medical tool for humans. Here we're using X-rays in a different way, but they are again revealing information that is otherwise hidden from us," said co-author Josephine Wong, also of Stanford.&nbsp;

As per NASA's report, one interesting feature of MSH 15-52 is a bright X-ray jet directed from the pulsar to the "wrist" at the bottom of the image.&nbsp;

NASA said in its report: "The new IXPE data reveal that the polarization at the start of the jet is low, likely because this is a turbulent region with complex, tangled magnetic fields associated with the generation of high-energy particles."&nbsp;

It added, "By the end of the jet the magnetic field lines appear to straighten and become much more uniform, causing the polarization to become much larger."&nbsp;

As per NASA, these findings suggest that particles move to regions where the magnetic field is uniform along the wrist, fingers, and thumb after receiving an energy boost in complicated turbulence regions close to the pulsar at the base of the palm.&nbsp;

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The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) once shared a stunning image of a nebula of energy and particles blown by a pulsar left behind after a star exploded.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) once shared a stunning image of a nebula of energy and particles blown by a pulsar left behind after a star exploded. The image blew people away as it looked like a human hand. Shared by NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, the caption of the post on Instagram read: "This famous hand-shaped structure is a nebula of energy & particles blown by a pulsar left behind after a star exploded." "Watch as the blast wave from the explosion moves at nearly 9 million miles (14 million kilometres) per hour in NASA Chandra observations spanning 14 years," it had added. Also read: Oh, Crab! James Webb reveals never-before-seen details of the Crab Nebula Now, astronomers have used two of NASA's X-ray space telescopes, combining their imaging powers, to unveil the magnetic field "bones" of the hand-shaped structure. NASA said in its report that the newest X-ray telescope, the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE), has observed MSH 15-52 for about 17 days. As quoted by NASA, Roger Romani of Stanford University in California, who led the study, said: "The IXPE data gives us the first map of the magnetic field in the 'hand'. The charged particles producing the X-rays travel along the magnetic field, determining the basic shape of the nebula, like the bones do in a person's hand." NASA said that according to IXPE, the magnetic field of the X-ray source determines the electric field direction of X-rays, which is called X-ray polarisation. The degree of polarisation is exceptionally high in many sections of MSH 15-52, surpassing the maximum level predicted by the theoretical study. That intensity requires a highly consistent and straight magnetic field, which implies that there is little turbulence in those areas of the pulsar wind nebula. Also read: NASA launches mission to 20,000-year-old supernova remnant to understand life cycle of stars If you got it, haunt it. The "bones" of a ghostly cosmic hand from a pulsar wind nebula have been revealed by our @ChandraXRay and IXPE space telescopes: https://t.co/umjVBb9Cdd pic.twitter.com/0H4xGbJT4D — NASA (@NASA) October 30, 2023 × "We're all familiar with X-rays as a diagnostic medical tool for humans. Here we're using X-rays in a different way, but they are again revealing information that is otherwise hidden from us," said co-author Josephine Wong, also of Stanford. As per NASA's report, one interesting feature of MSH 15-52 is a bright X-ray jet directed from the pulsar to the "wrist" at the bottom of the image. NASA said in its report: "The new IXPE data reveal that the polarization at the start of the jet is low, likely because this is a turbulent region with complex, tangled magnetic fields associated with the generation of high-energy particles." It added, "By the end of the jet the magnetic field lines appear to straighten and become much more uniform, causing the polarization to become much larger." As per NASA, these findings suggest that particles move to regions where the magnetic field is uniform along the wrist, fingers, and thumb after receiving an energy boost in complicated turbulence regions close to the pulsar at the base of the palm. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

X-ray of hand-shaped structure in space reveals 'bones of a ghostly cosmic hand'

In a first, astronomers&nbsp;have&nbsp;detected X-Rays from Uranus&nbsp;using Chandra X-ray Observatory. This result may help scientists learn more about this enigmatic ice giant planet in our solar system.

Uranus is the seventh planet from the Sun and has two sets of rings around its equator. The planet, which has four times the diameter of Earth, rotates on its side, making it different from all other planets in the solar system.

Since Voyager 2 was the only spacecraft to ever fly by Uranus, astronomers currently rely on telescopes much closer to Earth, like Chandra and the Hubble Space Telescope, to learn about this distant and cold planet that is made up almost entirely of hydrogen and helium.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uranus-wasnt-always-tilted-find-out-what-actually-happened-291104">Uranus wasn't always tilted: Find out what actually happened!</a>

In the new study, researchers used Chandra observations taken in Uranus in 2002 and then again in 2017. They saw a clear detection of X-rays from the first observation, just analysed recently, and a possible flare of X-rays in those obtained fifteen years later.

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The main graphic shows a Chandra X-ray image of Uranus from 2002 (in pink) superimposed on an optical image from the Keck-I Telescope obtained in a separate study in 2004. The latter shows the planet at approximately the same orientation as it was during the 2002 Chandra observations.

What could cause Uranus to emit X-rays? The answer: mainly the Sun. Astronomers have observed that both Jupiter and Saturn scatter X-ray light given off by the Sun, similar to how Earth's atmosphere scatters the Sun's light.

While the authors of the new Uranus study initially expected that most of the X-rays detected would also be from scattering, there are tantalising hints that at least one other source of X-rays is present. If further observations confirm this, it could have intriguing implications for understanding Uranus.

One possibility is that the rings of Uranus are producing X-rays themselves, which is the case for Saturn's rings. Uranus is surrounded by charged particles such as electrons and protons in its nearby space environment.

If these energetic particles collide with the rings, they could cause the rings to glow in X-rays. Another possibility is that at least some of the X-rays come from auroras on Uranus, a phenomenon that has previously been observed on this planet at other wavelengths.

On Earth, we can see colorful light shows in the sky called auroras, which happen when high-energy particles interact with the atmosphere. X-rays are emitted in Earth's auroras, produced by energetic electrons after they travel down the planet's magnetic field lines to its poles and are slowed down by the atmosphere. Jupiter has auroras, too.

The X-rays from auroras on Jupiter come from two sources: electrons traveling down magnetic field lines, as on Earth, and positively charged atoms and molecules raining down at Jupiter's polar regions. However, scientists are less certain about what causes auroras on Uranus. Chandra's observations may help figure out this mystery.

Uranus is an especially interesting target for X-ray observations because of the unusual orientations of its spin axis and its magnetic field. While the rotation and magnetic field axes of the other planets of the solar system are almost perpendicular to the plane of their orbit, the rotation axis of Uranus is nearly parallel to its path around the Sun. Furthermore, while Uranus is tilted on its side, its magnetic field is tilted by a different amount, and offset from the planet's center. This may cause its auroras to be unusually complex and variable. Determining the sources of the X-rays from Uranus could help astronomers better understand how more exotic objects in space, such as growing black holes and neutron stars, emit X-rays.

A paper describing these results appears in the most recent issue of the Journal of Geophysical Research and is available online. The authors are William Dunn (University College London, United Kingdom), Jan-Uwe Ness (University of Marseille, France), Laurent Lamy (Paris Observatory, France), Grant Tremblay (Center for Astrophysics | Harvard &amp; Smithsonian), Graziella Branduardi-Raymont (University College London), Bradford Snios (CfA), Ralph Kraft (CfA), Z. Yao (Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing), Affelia Wibisono (University College London).

NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center manages the Chandra program. The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory's Chandra X-ray Center controls science from Cambridge Massachusetts and flight operations from Burlington, Massachusetts.

In a first, astronomers have detected X-Rays from Uranus using Chandra X-ray Observatory. This result may help scientists learn more about this enigmatic ice giant planet in our solar system.

In a first, astronomers have detected X-Rays from Uranus using Chandra X-ray Observatory. This result may help scientists learn more about this enigmatic ice giant planet in our solar system. Uranus is the seventh planet from the Sun and has two sets of rings around its equator. The planet, which has four times the diameter of Earth, rotates on its side, making it different from all other planets in the solar system. Since Voyager 2 was the only spacecraft to ever fly by Uranus, astronomers currently rely on telescopes much closer to Earth, like Chandra and the Hubble Space Telescope, to learn about this distant and cold planet that is made up almost entirely of hydrogen and helium. Also read| Uranus wasn't always tilted: Find out what actually happened! In the new study, researchers used Chandra observations taken in Uranus in 2002 and then again in 2017. They saw a clear detection of X-rays from the first observation, just analysed recently, and a possible flare of X-rays in those obtained fifteen years later. The main graphic shows a Chandra X-ray image of Uranus from 2002 (in pink) superimposed on an optical image from the Keck-I Telescope obtained in a separate study in 2004. The latter shows the planet at approximately the same orientation as it was during the 2002 Chandra observations. What could cause Uranus to emit X-rays? The answer: mainly the Sun. Astronomers have observed that both Jupiter and Saturn scatter X-ray light given off by the Sun, similar to how Earth's atmosphere scatters the Sun's light. While the authors of the new Uranus study initially expected that most of the X-rays detected would also be from scattering, there are tantalising hints that at least one other source of X-rays is present. If further observations confirm this, it could have intriguing implications for understanding Uranus. One possibility is that the rings of Uranus are producing X-rays themselves, which is the case for Saturn's rings. Uranus is surrounded by charged particles such as electrons and protons in its nearby space environment. If these energetic particles collide with the rings, they could cause the rings to glow in X-rays. Another possibility is that at least some of the X-rays come from auroras on Uranus, a phenomenon that has previously been observed on this planet at other wavelengths. On Earth, we can see colorful light shows in the sky called auroras, which happen when high-energy particles interact with the atmosphere. X-rays are emitted in Earth's auroras, produced by energetic electrons after they travel down the planet's magnetic field lines to its poles and are slowed down by the atmosphere. Jupiter has auroras, too. The X-rays from auroras on Jupiter come from two sources: electrons traveling down magnetic field lines, as on Earth, and positively charged atoms and molecules raining down at Jupiter's polar regions. However, scientists are less certain about what causes auroras on Uranus. Chandra's observations may help figure out this mystery. Uranus is an especially interesting target for X-ray observations because of the unusual orientations of its spin axis and its magnetic field. While the rotation and magnetic field axes of the other planets of the solar system are almost perpendicular to the plane of their orbit, the rotation axis of Uranus is nearly parallel to its path around the Sun. Furthermore, while Uranus is tilted on its side, its magnetic field is tilted by a different amount, and offset from the planet's center. This may cause its auroras to be unusually complex and variable. Determining the sources of the X-rays from Uranus could help astronomers better understand how more exotic objects in space, such as growing black holes and neutron stars, emit X-rays. A paper describing these results appears in the most recent issue of the Journal of Geophysical Research and is available online. The authors are William Dunn (University College London, United Kingdom), Jan-Uwe Ness (University of Marseille, France), Laurent Lamy (Paris Observatory, France), Grant Tremblay (Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian), Graziella Branduardi-Raymont (University College London), Bradford Snios (CfA), Ralph Kraft (CfA), Z. Yao (Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing), Affelia Wibisono (University College London). NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center manages the Chandra program. The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory's Chandra X-ray Center controls science from Cambridge Massachusetts and flight operations from Burlington, Massachusetts.

Scientists discover X-rays coming from Uranus for the first time

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X-ray of hand-shaped structure in space reveals 'bones of a ghostly cosmic hand'

Scientists discover X-rays coming from Uranus for the first time