Other Names: Helix Nebula PN G036.1-57.1, PK 036-57.1, ARO 17
Optics: Planewave 20" (0.51m) CDK f/4.5
Mount: Planewave Ascension 200HR
Camera: FLI-PL6303E CCD camera
Filters: HaRGB
Exposure: 250 Mins, [50 x 300s] 150 mins Ha, 50 mins R, 25 mins each of BG
Accessories: 2280mm (0.66 Focal Reducer) no guider used
Location: Siding Spring, New South Wales, Australia
Date: August 1st to 3rd, 2013
Notes: Image acquisition with
Maxim DL Pro using ACP automation
. Processing: Image calibration, align, and combine in Maxim DL Pro. Levels, curves, crop and resize in Photoshop. HaRGB combine completed using Neil Fleming's method (Ha added in "lighten" blend to each channel - R 75%, G 15%, B 20%.
Calibrated w/50 Darks, 100 Bias, 15-70 Flats of each filter. CCD temperature was -35C. Image was taken using
ITelescope.net's rental scope (T30) in Australia.
Ha Version:
http://astromarina.zenfolio.com/p264248004/h3C7AB91B#h3c7ab91bThe
Helix Nebula, also known as
The Helix,
NGC 7293, is a large
planetary nebula (PN) 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.
[7] The estimated distance is about 215 parsecs or 700
light-years.
The Helix Nebula is an example of a
planetary nebula, or 'planetary' formed at the end of a star's 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 a planetary nebula nucleus or PNN, 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.
The Helix Nebula in the constellation of
Aquarius lies about 700 light-years away, spanning about 0.8
parsec or 2.5 light-years.
Currently, the age is estimated to be 10,600 years +/-2,300 to 1,200, based solely upon a measured expansion rate of 31 km/s