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

Getting plate-solving status, please wait...
NGC 7293, John Bozeman
NGC 7293
Powered byPixInsight

NGC 7293

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Description

The Helix Nebula (also known as NGC 7293 or Caldwell 63) is a planetary nebula (PN) located in the constellation Aquarius. The distance, measured by the Gaia mission, is 655±13 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 is an example of a planetary nebula, formed by an intermediate to low-mass star, which sheds its outer layers near the end of its 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 the central star (CS) of the planetary nebula, 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.
IR data from the IRSA ZTF Data Portal.

Color Mapped:

Red - zr
Green - zg
Blue - zg

 Processed with FITS Liberator, PixInsight and Photoshop 2023.

This publication makes use of data products from Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF), which is a joint project of the University of California, Los Angeles, and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory/California Institute of Technology, funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

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NGC 7293, John Bozeman