The Helix Nebula – NGC 7293
Celestron C14 @ f/1.9 (Hyperstar)
Paramount ME
Canon 20Da camera
Manchester, Michigan – 08/30/2008
Exposure time: 30 x 2 min. w/LPR Filter, Total exposure time: 1 hour
The images were stacked using Deep Sky Stacker and Processed using Photoshop cs2
The Helix Nebula is the closest example of a planetary nebula created at the end of the life of a Sun-like star. The outer gasses of the star expelled into space appear from our vantage point as if we are looking down a helix. The remnant central stellar core, destined to become a white dwarf star, glows in light so energetic it causes the previously expelled gas to fluoresce. The Helix Nebula, given a technical designation of NGC 7293, lies about 650 light-years away towards the constellation of Aquarius and spans about 2.5 light-years.
Imaged By: Jeff Thrush
Timur Sümer 