Helix Nebula LRGB from 3200 m (Scott Denning)

Celestial hemisphere: Southern · Constellation: Aquarius (Aqr) · Contains: Helix Nebula · NGC 7293

Helix Nebula LRGB from 3200 m, Scott Denning

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Helix Nebula LRGB from 3200 m

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Helix Nebula LRGB from 3200 m

Helix Nebula August 13-14, 2023 Snowy Mountain Cabin

While up at the cabin to watch the Perseids, I captured the Helix Nebula in the far southern sky.

Borg 125 SD f/8.4 (1050 mm) on iOptron CEM40EC with ASI 2600 mm Pro and Chroma filters

L=151x30s; R=51x60s; G=B=46x60s over two nights (CEM40 meridian flip failed!)

Captured in NINA on miniPC Processed PixInsight WBPP

Been meaning to do this for years, because it’s one of the biggest and most beautiful “planetary” nebulae out there. But it’s 21 degrees south of the celestial equator so it just skims along the southern horizon from where we live. At home it never clears my trees and even in an open meadow near treeline it barely climbs above the murky blur of the treetops.

It’s yet another dying star, blowing its guts out to enrich interstellar space with hydrogen (red) and oxygen (blue) that will slowly collect as microscopic coatings of water ice on mineral grains. These ice-mantled interstellar dust motes serve as the reaction vessel for organic chemistry over cosmic time that manufactures the ripe ingredients for future planets, plants and people. And oh, yeah, it also looks like a cosmic eye peering back at us!

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Astrometry.net job	8302787
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Helix Nebula LRGB from 3200 m

Helix Nebula LRGB from 3200 m

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Helix Nebula LRGB from 3200 m

Helix Nebula LRGB from 3200 m

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