The Helix Nebula (also known as The Helix,
NGC 7293, or Caldwell 63) is a large
planetary nebula (PN) located in the
constellation Aquarius. Discovered by
Karl Ludwig Harding, probably before 1824, this object is one of the closest to the
Earth of all the bright
planetary nebulae.
[7] The estimated distance is about 215 parsecs or 700
light-years. It is similar in appearance to the
Ring Nebula, whose size, age, and physical characteristics are similar to the
Dumbbell Nebula, varying only in its relative proximity and the appearance from the equatorial viewing angle.
[2] The Helix has often been referred to as the Eye of God on the Internet, since about 2003.
[8]
The Helix Nebula is an example of a
planetary nebula, or 'planetary' formed at the end of a star's evolution. Gases from the star in the surrounding space appear, from our
vantage point, as if we are looking down a
helix structure. The remnant central stellar core, known as a planetary nebula nucleus or PNN, is destined to become a
white dwarf star. The observed glow of the central star is so energetic that it causes the previously expelled gases to brightly
fluoresce.The Helix Nebula in the constellation of
Aquarius lies about 700 light-years away, spanning about 0.8
parsec or 2.5 light-years. Recent images by the
Hubble Space Telescope of the Helix Nebula are a composite of newly released images from the
ACS instrument and the wide-angle images from the Mosaic Camera on the
WIYN 0.9-metre telescope at
Kitt Peak National Observatory.
http://en.wikipedia.org
Instruments and exposure data:
W.O FLT110 with dedicated TMB field flattener
FeatherTouch 3'' focuser
Starizona MicroTouch autofocuser
W.O ZS80 ED
SBIG ST10XME CFW9
Meade DSI
Filters:
Ha 5nm Astrodon
Sky-Watcher EQ6 Pro
Ha :57*10min bin1x1 (9.5hours)
Vironas Athens Greece
