Helix Nebula
NGC 7293
천체 데이터
- 카탈로그 지정명
- C63
- 유형
- PlanetaryNebula
- 별자리
- Aquarius
- 등급
- 7.3
- 적경
- 22h 29m 38.6s
- 적위
- -20° 50' 16.8"
- 거리
- 650 광년
- 각크기
- 13
서베이 이미지
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Helix Nebula 소개
설명
The Helix Nebula (NGC 7293) is the nearest bright planetary nebula to Earth, at about 650 light-years away in Aquarius. It spans nearly half a degree (close to the apparent size of the full Moon) and displays a stunning ring structure in photographs, earning it the nickname "Eye of God."
관측 팁
Despite being the closest bright planetary nebula, its large size gives it low surface brightness. Best in binoculars or a wide-field telescope at low power with an OIII filter. Requires dark skies. Best in autumn from locations with low southern horizon.
역사
Discovered by Karl Ludwig Harding before 1824. The Helix was one of the first planetary nebulae to be studied in detail, and its proximity makes it a Rosetta Stone for understanding planetary nebula physics.
재미있는 사실
Deep images reveal thousands of cometary knots — tadpole-shaped clumps of gas each about the size of our solar system — streaming away from the central star. The Helix contains at least 20,000 of these features.
커뮤니티 사진 (1)
Credit: The HST data are from proposal 9700. Processed images may be obtained from the Helix MAST web site. The Hubble Helix Team includes M. Meixner, H.E. Bond, G. Chapman (STScI), Y.-H. Chu (U. Illinois, Ur.... License: Public domain. (Wikimedia Commons)
Skybred Mar 2, 2026