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> NGC 7293, The Helix Nebula

NGC 7293, The Helix Nebula

author: J.Lodriguss/Novapix

reference: a-nep72-93004

Image Size 300 DPI: 20 * 13 cm

The Helix nebula is the largest planetary nebula in the sky subtending an angle the size of half the full moon, and can easily be seen even in small binoculars despite it's low surface brightness if observed under a dark and transparent sky. Sometimes called the "Sunflower" nebula, it is a shell of expanding gas blown off by the magnitude 13.3 star at it's center, which is extremely hot.
This photo also shows a portion of the extremely faint outer loop of the Helix nebula, visible to the upper left of the main, bright portion of the nebula.

Keywords for this photo:

1994 - AQUARIUS - ASTRONOMY - DWARF - DYING STAR - EVOLUTION - HELIX - NEBULA - NGC 7293 - PLANETARY NEBULA - STAR - WHITE DWARF -