Celestial hemisphere:  Southern  ·  Constellation: Aquarius (Aqr)  ·  Contains:  Helix Nebula  ·  NGC 7293
NGC 7293 - The Helix Nebula, NocturnalAstro
NGC 7293 - The Helix Nebula
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NGC 7293 - The Helix Nebula, NocturnalAstro
NGC 7293 - The Helix Nebula
Powered byPixInsight

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Description

The Helix Nebula (also known as The Helix, NGC 7293, or Caldwell 63) is a large planetary nebula 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 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.

The nebula emits beautiful rays that can be seen represented by the oxygen element in the electromagnetic spectrum. In the second picture I’ve separated this specific bandwidth of light so that these rays can be easier to admire. I was inspired by the pictures taken by Spitzer telescope which opens a door inside the secretes of this nebula.

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NGC 7293 - The Helix Nebula, NocturnalAstro