alessandro_motta
08022025-Helix_Nebula
️✨ The Helix Nebula – The Eye of the Universe 🌌🔭
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Staring back at us from 650 light-years away, the Helix Nebula (NGC 7293) is one of the closest and most detailed planetary nebulae ever observed. Often called the "Eye of God", this cosmic wonder is the final breath of a dying star, shedding its outer layers into space and creating this mesmerizing structure.
📍 Constellation: Aquarius ♒
✨ Distance from Earth: ~650 light-years
📏 Size: ~2.5 light-years across
🔭 Apparent Magnitude: +7.6
📡 Coordinates (J2000):
Right Ascension: 22h 29m 38.55s
Declination: -20° 50′ 13.6″
💡 Interesting Facts:
The central white dwarf, the remnant core of the original star, will eventually cool over billions of years.
The nebula’s complex structure is shaped by strong stellar winds and radiation.
It was one of the first planetary nebulae discovered to contain cometary knots, dense clumps of gas each about the size of our solar system!
Despite its ghostly appearance, this nebula is expanding at a rate of 31 km/s!
A cosmic farewell that reminds us of the cyclical nature of the universe. What do you see in this celestial eye? ️✨
Lights: 48x600 (LRGB)
Telescope: Planewave CDK24
Camera: FLI ProLine PL9000
Filters: Astrodon
Processed: Pixinsight
Date: 31/08/2022
08022025-Helix_Nebula
️✨ The Helix Nebula – The Eye of the Universe 🌌🔭
follow - share - credit
www.instagram.com/ale_motta_astrofotografia
Staring back at us from 650 light-years away, the Helix Nebula (NGC 7293) is one of the closest and most detailed planetary nebulae ever observed. Often called the "Eye of God", this cosmic wonder is the final breath of a dying star, shedding its outer layers into space and creating this mesmerizing structure.
📍 Constellation: Aquarius ♒
✨ Distance from Earth: ~650 light-years
📏 Size: ~2.5 light-years across
🔭 Apparent Magnitude: +7.6
📡 Coordinates (J2000):
Right Ascension: 22h 29m 38.55s
Declination: -20° 50′ 13.6″
💡 Interesting Facts:
The central white dwarf, the remnant core of the original star, will eventually cool over billions of years.
The nebula’s complex structure is shaped by strong stellar winds and radiation.
It was one of the first planetary nebulae discovered to contain cometary knots, dense clumps of gas each about the size of our solar system!
Despite its ghostly appearance, this nebula is expanding at a rate of 31 km/s!
A cosmic farewell that reminds us of the cyclical nature of the universe. What do you see in this celestial eye? ️✨
Lights: 48x600 (LRGB)
Telescope: Planewave CDK24
Camera: FLI ProLine PL9000
Filters: Astrodon
Processed: Pixinsight
Date: 31/08/2022