The Helix Nebula, also known as NGC 7293, is a large planetary nebula located in the constellation Aquarius, about 650 light-years away from Earth. Often called the “Eye of God” due to its striking appearance, it features a bright, donut-shaped ring of gas and dust surrounding a central, faint white dwarf—the remnant core of a dying star. This nebula formed when the star shed its outer layers in the final stages of its life, creating the colorful halo we see today. It spans about 2.5 light-years and is one of the closest planetary nebulae to Earth, making it a popular object of study in astronomy.
| Telescope | Newtonian 200/800 mm |
| Aperture | 200 mm |
| Focal length | 800 mm |
| Mount | Skywatcher EQ6R |
| Autoguiding | ZWO 174MM, WO 40/200 mm |
| Camera | ZWO 071MC @-0°C |
| Corrector | GPU |
| Filters | Antlia DualBand |
| Exposure | 131x180s, Gain 100, bin 1×1, |
| Date | 2024-10-05 |
