The Helix Nebula (NGC7293)

Eso_helix_1024

eso_helix December 3rd, 2009

Credit: ESO

The Helix Nebula (also known as The Helix, NGC 7293, or Caldwell 63) 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. The estimated distance is about 215 parsecs or 700 light-years. It is similar in appearance to 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 has sometimes been referred to as the "Eye of God" in pop culture.

Provider: European Southern Observatory

Image Source: https://www.eso.org/public/images/helix/

Curator: European Southern Observatory, Garching bei München, Germany

Image Use Policy: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

Image Details

Image Type
Observation
Object Name
Helix Nebula NGC 7293
Subject - Milky Way
Nebula > Type > Planetary
Eso_helix_128
 

Position Details

Position (ICRS)
RA = 22h 29m 38.5s
DEC = -20° 50’ 13.3”
Orientation
North is up
Field of View
48.8 x 33.9 arcminutes
Constellation
Aquarius

Color Mapping

  Telescope Spectral Band Wavelength
ESO-3.6m (None) -
Eso_helix_1280
×
ID
helix
Subject Category
B.4.1.3  
Subject Name
Helix Nebula, NGC 7293
Credits
ESO
Release Date
2009-12-03T23:20:46
Lightyears
Redshift
Reference Url
https://www.eso.org/public/images/helix/
Type
Observation
Image Quality
Distance Notes
Facility
ESO 3.6-metre telescope
Instrument
None
Color Assignment
Band
Bandpass
Central Wavelength
Start Time
Integration Time
Dataset ID
Notes
Coordinate Frame
ICRS
Equinox
J2000
Reference Value
337.410536, -20.83703
Reference Dimension
6850.0, 4759.0
Reference Pixel
3490.93308883, 2488.91361565
Scale
-0.00011879534, 0.00011879534
Rotation
0.0244538471
Coordinate System Projection:
TAN
Quality
Full
FITS Header
Notes
Creator (Curator)
European Southern Observatory
URL
http://www.eso.org/
Name
Email
Telephone
Address
Karl-Schwarzschild-Strasse 2
City
Garching bei München
State/Province
Postal Code
D-85748
Country
Germany
Rights
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
Publisher
European Southern Observatory
Publisher ID
eso
Resource ID
helix
Metadata Date
2009-06-09T09:48:57+02:00
Metadata Version
1.1
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Detailed color mapping information coming soon...

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There is no distance meta data in this image.

 

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