NGC 7293

Aloha!

I submit a favorite observation, NGC 7293 the Helix Nebula located in the constellation Aquarius. My first impression even without a filter was “Wow, that is really big!”. And it is, measuring 16’ in diameter or about half the size of the full Moon. It is also the nearest planetary nebula to our solar system at a distance of ~650 light years.

Though I could see the object without aid of filters, OIII & NPB filters brought out far more detail. Some fainter stars could be seen with averted vision within the nebula as well as a multi-layered mottled shell like appearance. I have gone back to this object many times trying to “see” more with longer observations.

Haleakala Maui, Hawaii
12.5” Portaball 14mm EP 108X
OIII & NPB filters
9/17/12
graphite pencil / white paper, inverted with Photoscape software
Thia (Cindy) Krach