The Helix Nebula
NGC 7293 in Aquarius
is an enormous planetary nebula (PN) discovered by Karl Ludwig Harding in 1823. Estimated at 2.5 light-years across, NGC 7293 is one of the largest of its class. At 700 light-years distance, the Helix, also referred to as The Eye of God is a young object, believed to have formed a mere 6,560 years ago. The Helix was the first planetary nebula found to contain cometary knots which radiate from the dying central star. The name 'cometary' derives from their bright cusps and tails. PNs are often characterized by their pink H-alpha and teal Oxygen 3 components. The principal portion of the nebula was imaged by SSRO. I am extremely grateful to the Italian imaging team of Piermario Gualdoni and Alessandro Cipolat Bares for providing the wonderful bow-shock at bottom, and the wider star field, and to Mike Selby for additional Hydrogen-alpha data.
LARGE
is an enormous planetary nebula (PN) discovered by Karl Ludwig Harding in 1823. Estimated at 2.5 light-years across, NGC 7293 is one of the largest of its class. At 700 light-years distance, the Helix, also referred to as The Eye of God is a young object, believed to have formed a mere 6,560 years ago. The Helix was the first planetary nebula found to contain cometary knots which radiate from the dying central star. The name 'cometary' derives from their bright cusps and tails. PNs are often characterized by their pink H-alpha and teal Oxygen 3 components. The principal portion of the nebula was imaged by SSRO. I am extremely grateful to the Italian imaging team of Piermario Gualdoni and Alessandro Cipolat Bares for providing the wonderful bow-shock at bottom, and the wider star field, and to Mike Selby for additional Hydrogen-alpha data.
LARGE