Helix Nebula
Also known as NGC 7293
Helix Nebula is a planetary nebula in the constellation Aquarius, about 520 light-years from Earth.
One of the nearest planetary nebulae
Facts
| Type | Planetary nebula (spectral type DAO.5) |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Aquarius |
| Position (J2000) | 22h 29m 38s, −20° 50′ |
| Distance | 520 light-years (its light set off about 520 years ago) |
| Brightness | magnitude 13.52 (smaller is brighter; the faintest stars the eye sees are about 6) |
| Size on the sky | 13.4′ × 13.4′ (the full Moon is about 31′) |
| Filter | OIII filter (Planetary nebulae and supernova remnants shine mostly in the green light of doubly ionised oxygen: an OIII filter passes it and darkens the sky around it.) |
| Studied in | 990 scientific papers (SIMBAD) |
When and how to see it
Helix Nebula is highest in the sky at midnight in August. From India (about 20° N) it climbs to about 49° above the horizon; from 50° N, to about 19°. To see it you need a large telescope or long-exposure photos.
Heights are worked out for India and for 50° N. Set your location in Settings to see them for where you are.
For tonight's best time from your own town, the darkness and the Moon, open it on the map and see its "Tonight from your location" card.
More in Aquarius
Everything in Aquarius · All 88 constellations · All sky objects
Data: SIMBAD (CDS, Strasbourg; the site's weekly copy) · OpenNGC · Data sources & credits