Tag Archives: The Helix Nebula

The Helix Nebula

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The Helix Nebula, also known as The Helix, NGC 7293, 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. The estimated distance is about 215 parsecs or 700 light-years. It is similar in appearance to the Cat’s Eye Nebula and 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. The Helix Nebula has sometimes been referred to as the “Eye of God” in pop culture, as well as the “Eye of Sauron”.

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.

Imaging telescopes or lenses: Celestron C-11
Imaging cameras: Atik 460 EX Mono
Mounts: iOptron iEQ45
Guiding cameras: Starlight Xpress Lodestar
Software: Stark Labs PHD Guiding, Nebulosity, GIMP 2.9 GIMP 2
Filters: Astrodon Ha 5mm, Astrodon LRGB CCD Imaging Filters (E-Series), Gen2
Accessories: Starlight Xpress SX USB Filter Wheel
Resolution: 2771×2198
Dates: Sept. 24, 2014
Frames: 75×300″
Integration: 6.2 hours
Avg. Moon age: 29.28 days
Avg. Moon phase: 0.07%
RA center: 337.420 degrees
DEC center: -20.841 degrees
Orientation: 93.040 degrees
Field radius: 0.311 degree

Author: 1074j

AstroPhotography of the day of day SPONLI

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Helix Nebula in Aquarius

cf1f3ae774d06d2f07424b4c1c38cd1f.1824x0_q100_watermark_watermark_opacity-16_watermark_position-4_watermark_text-Copyright Stefan Westphal
The Helix Nebula, also known as The Helix, NGC 7293, 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. The estimated distance is about 215 parsecs or 700 light-years. It is similar in appearance to the Cat’s Eye Nebula and 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.

Imaging telescopes or lenses: Orion Optics UK SPX 250
Imaging cameras: Artemis Atik 383L+
Mounts: Vixen New Atlux + Skysensor 2000
Guiding telescopes or lenses: Orion Optics UK SPX 250
Guiding cameras: M-Gen Guiding Kamera
Focal reducers: GPU Komakorrektor
Software: DSS, Fitswork
Filters: Baader Planetarium 36mm Luminance, Baader Planetarium 36mm Red, Baader Planetarium 36mm Green, Baader Planetarium 36mm Blue
Accessories: Lacerta MGEN2, Lacerta OAG
Dates: Aug. 6, 2013, Aug. 7, 2013
Locations: Emberger Alm
Frames:
Baader Planetarium 36mm Blue: 5×360″ -15C bin 1×1
Baader Planetarium 36mm Green: 5×360″ -15C bin 1×1
Baader Planetarium 36mm Luminance: 10×360″ -15C bin 1×1
Baader Planetarium 36mm Red: 6×360″ -15C bin 1×1
Integration: 2.6 hours
Darks: ~4
Flats: ~25

Author: Stefan Westphal
AstroPhotography of the day by SPONLI 29 Aug 2014

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Helix Nebula

039298dda266eedbc27610b77a7d13b7.1824x0_q100_watermark_watermark_opacity-10_watermark_position-4_watermark_text-Copyright Rick Stevenson, 2013

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 ACSinstrument and the wide-angle images from the Mosaic Camera on the WIYN 0.9-metre telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory.

Currently, the age is estimated to be 10,600+2,300
−1,200 years, based solely upon a measured expansion rate of 31 km·s−1.

Imaging telescopes or lenses: Ceravolo 300 Astrograph (f/9)
Imaging cameras: Apogee Alta U16M
Mounts: Astro-Physics AP900
Guiding telescopes or lenses: Ceravolo 300 Astrograph (f/9)
Guiding cameras: Starlight Xpress Lodestar
Software: Pleaides Astrophoto PixInsight 1.8, Maxim DL
Filters: Astrodon 3nm OIII, Astrodon E-series 2 LRGB, Astrodon 3nm Ha
Accessories: FLI Atlas focuser
Dates: Sept. 7, 2013
Frames: 96×1800″
Integration: 48.0 hours

Author: Rick Stevenson
AstroPhotography of the day by SPONLI 29 May 2014

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NGC 7293: The Helix Nebula

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Image Credit & Copyright: Don Goldman

A mere seven hundred light years from Earth, in the constellation Aquarius, a sun-like star is dying. Its last few thousand years have produced the Helix Nebula (NGC 7293), a well studied and nearby example of a Planetary Nebula, typical of this final phase of stellar evolution. A total of 28.5 hours of exposure time have gone in to creating this deep view of the nebula. Combining narrow band image data from emission lines of hydrogen atoms in red and oxygen atoms in blue-green hues, it shows remarkable details of the Helix’s brighter inner region, about 3 light-years across, but also follows fainter outer halo features that give the nebula a span of well over six light-years. The white dot at the Helix’s center is this Planetary Nebula’s hot, central star. A simple looking nebula at first glance, the Helix is now understood to have a surprisingly complex geometry.
APOD NASA 10-Jan-2014

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