Wednesday, August 01, 2018

imaged the Helix Nebula (Halifax)

BGO imaged NGC 7293 aka the Helix Nebula. This is a large planetary nebula in the constellation Aquarius. It is one of the RASC Finest NGCs.

When I started my Finest NGC imaging project with the SMU robotic telescope, I didn't think I'd be able to capture this object, being quite low. But as my understanding of the controls improved, I learned it was possible to reach. Happy to finally image it.

All images: FITS Liberator, GIMP. North is up; east is left.

RASC Finest planetary nebula The Helix in luminance

Luminance only, 10 seconds subexposures, 15 stacked shots.

The Helix in hydrogen-alpha

H-alpha only, 30 seconds subexposures, 15 stacked shots.

The Helix in ionised-oxygen

O-III only, 30 seconds subexposures, 15 stacked shots.

Wow. Huge. And extremely faint. Longer exposures in all wavelengths would be best. With no stoopid Moon around either...
             
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Imaged again on 20 Aug '22 with better results.

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Wikipedia link: Helix Nebula.

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