• NGC 7293 in Aquarius, the Helix Nebula
  • NGC 7293 in Aquarius, the Helix Nebula
    Annotated image
  • NGC 7293, the Helix Nebula in Aquarius.
  • More recently named the God's Eye Nebula.
  • One of the largest as viewed from and perhaps
  • the closest planetary nebula to our solar system.
  • Date:  23 Aug and 22 Oct 2022, 19 Aug, 5 Nov, and 15 Nov 2023
  • FOV:  approximately 90' × 60'; the angular size of NGC 7293 is about 25'
  • Telescope:  Stellarvue SVX102T + SFFX-1 flattener (738mm, f/7)
  • Guiding:  ZWO ASI120MM mini mono guide camera,
  • Stellarvue F050G 50mm guide scope
  • Computer:  ASIair pro Raspberry Pi
  • Mount:  iOptron CEM40
  • Camera:  ZWO ASI071MC Pro Cooled (-10°C) Color CMOS
  • Pixel size:  4.78 μm
  • Resolution:  1.336 arcsec/pixel
  • Frames:  23 Aug 2223 × 240 seconds × 240 gain, Optolong L-eNhanced filter
  • 23 Aug 2214 × 240 seconds ×   90 gain, Baader Light Pollution filter
  • 22 Oct 2254 × 240 seconds × 240 gain, Optolong L-eNhanced filter
  • 19 Aug 2344 × 240 seconds × 240 gain, Optolong L-eNhanced filter
  • 5 Nov 2321 × 240 seconds × 240 gain, Optolong L-Ultimate filter
  • 15 Nov 2314 × 240 seconds × 240 gain, Optolong L-Ultimate filter
  • Stacking:  one hundred seventy frames using Pixinsight
  • integrated the 135 L-eNhanced and Baader frames → Full image and
  • integrated the 35 L-Ultimate frames → Ult image
  • Calibration:  20 darks, 20 flats, and each session has 20 dark flats
  • Total Time:  11 hours 20 minutes
  • Processing:  Pixinsight – extracted R, G, B, from Ult and combined G + B → OIII
  • LRGB Combination of R, G, OIII → NB
  • DynAlign and Pixmath Screen Blend → final linear image
  • DynCrop, SPCC, DBE, SPCC, BlurXT, NoiseXT, HST, GHS, MStr,
  • PixelMath add MStr + GHS + HST → PM, HDR7, HDR8, Sat, Scale
  • Location:  Cherry Springs State Park near Coudersport, PA (Full)
  • and Darling Hill Observatory, near Vesper, NY (NB)