The central blue-green shell gives way to a warm red halo, making this one of the most graphic pieces in the set.
- What am I looking at?
- The Helix Nebula is a planetary nebula — the glowing shell of gas cast off by a dying Sun-like star.
- How far away is it?
- About 700 light-years away.
- Where is it in the sky?
- In Aquarius, low in the southern sky for mid-northern observers.
- Why does it matter?
- One of the closest and largest planetary nebulae, showing how Sun-like stars end their lives.
- When is the best time to photograph it?
- Late summer and autumn when Aquarius is highest.
Capture summary
Nebula in Aquarius
Natural and narrowband blend
OIII and RGB
Autumn target / wide composition
- Optolong L-Pro 2 2h 40m 32 x 300s
When to image this target
Nebula in Aquarius; best planned for September through November from New Jersey.
Autumn is a strong window for Cepheus, Cassiopeia, Andromeda, and late Cygnus fields.
Assumes a New Jersey backyard horizon and evening imaging.
Emission nebulae are good candidates for narrowband filters; reflection nebulae prefer darker skies.
NGC 7293 is listed here in Aquarius.
Current frame: Natural and narrowband blend / OIII and RGB.
Live altitude, moon, and filter guidance
Calculating target altitude and moon context.
Use the full planner to enter a ZIP code, choose a date, and compare the target from your sky.
Based on the current time.
Green marks usable dark-sky altitude.
Next upper transit.
Approximate horizon crossing.
Moon phase and altitude.
Acquisition & processing notes
Filter channels, integration times, and capture dates for this frame. View on AstroBin.
- Optolong L-Pro 2 32 x 300s, 2h 40m
Field notes for this target.
Browse all capture notesHow I captured this
| Channel | Frames | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Optolong L-Pro 2 | 32 x 300s | 2h 40m |
- Equipment used
- From my current rig
- Mount
- iOptron CEM60
- Telescope
- Explore Scientific FCD100 127mm Carbon Fiber Triplet APO
- Camera
- ZWO ASI2600MM Pro
- Filters
- Chroma 36mm Ha, OIII, SII, and LRGB (ZWO EFW 7×36mm)
- Focuser / rotator
- MoonLite NiteCrawler
- Reducer
- Starizona Apex ED 0.65×
- Guiding
- ZWO off-axis guider + ASI290MM Mini
- Control / power
- PrimaLuceLab Eagle 4S, Powerwerx PSU, Bioenno field battery, and MEGAbox
