Wallpaper author:
David Tonucci
29 Dec 2025
Helix Nebula
The Helix Nebula (NGC 7293) is one of the closest planetary nebulae, appearing as a giant glowing "eye" or helix in the constellation Aquarius, formed by a dying, Sun-like star shedding its outer layers, leaving a white dwarf core that illuminates the gas, revealing intricate structures like radial filaments and cometary knots, proximity is about 650 light-years away.
Dataset from which the image was processed
NGC 7293
13 credit
- Type of target............................................................................................................................Planetary Nebula
- Camera............................................................................................................................QHY 600M
- Target coordinates............................................................................................................................RA 337.4106 Dec -20.8372
- Hemisphere............................................................................................................................Southern
- Telescope location............................................................................................................................Chile
- Transient event............................................................................................................................No
- Observed on............................................................................................................................30 Jun 2023 - 19 Jul 2024
Filter | Avg Exp (s) | Total Exposure | Subframes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Halpha | 800 | 10h | 45 |
| Luminance | 193 | 2h25m | 45 |
| Blue | 173 | 2h10m | 45 |
| Green | 164 | 2h | 44 |
| Red | 164 | 2h | 44 |