NGC 7293 in Aquarius, the Helix Nebula
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)