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Helix Nebula
The Helix Nebula (NGC7293) in Aquarius: The Helix Nebula is one of the closest planetary nebula to Earth and one of the largest planetary nebula discovered so far. A planetary nebula is one in which a star has shed off it’s atmosphere during the stellar aging process. This planetary nebula, often called the “Eye of God”, was formed when a dying star (white dwarf) shed its outer atmosphere, which is now expanding out in a large ring at a rate of 25 km per second. The central white drawf star is releasing so much energy that it is lighting up this entire nebula. As the star cools, the nebula will fade away from view. Our Sun is expected to do the same in about 5 billion years.
This is a single 30 minute exposure using conventional slide film. I used an old Olympus OM1 35mm film camera attached to a Meade LXD75 8" Schmidt Newtonian Telescope for focal length of 812mm at f/4. While the mount automatically tracked the object, I hand guided corrections (to fix tracking errors) using another telescope (Orion guidescope) attached to the main scope. Total cost of this setup was under $1,700 U.S. For details on how you can capture the universe in brilliant color visit my website at Petes Astrophotography
To buy prints and other gifts using this photograph please visit Cosmic Colors
Helix Nebula
The Helix Nebula (NGC7293) in Aquarius: The Helix Nebula is one of the closest planetary nebula to Earth and one of the largest planetary nebula discovered so far. A planetary nebula is one in which a star has shed off it’s atmosphere during the stellar aging process. This planetary nebula, often called the “Eye of God”, was formed when a dying star (white dwarf) shed its outer atmosphere, which is now expanding out in a large ring at a rate of 25 km per second. The central white drawf star is releasing so much energy that it is lighting up this entire nebula. As the star cools, the nebula will fade away from view. Our Sun is expected to do the same in about 5 billion years.
This is a single 30 minute exposure using conventional slide film. I used an old Olympus OM1 35mm film camera attached to a Meade LXD75 8" Schmidt Newtonian Telescope for focal length of 812mm at f/4. While the mount automatically tracked the object, I hand guided corrections (to fix tracking errors) using another telescope (Orion guidescope) attached to the main scope. Total cost of this setup was under $1,700 U.S. For details on how you can capture the universe in brilliant color visit my website at Petes Astrophotography
To buy prints and other gifts using this photograph please visit Cosmic Colors