Object: The Helix Nebula (NGC 7293)
Date: 10/7/07
Location: White Sands Star Party, NM
Telescope: TeleVue 85 @ f/5.6 on a G11 mount
Guiding: Meade DSI-C camera and PHD software
Camera: Modified Canon 350XT
Exposure: 15 x 4min, ISO 800, Temp 65 degrees F
Processing: RAW conversion. registration and stacking (min/max excluded) in ImagesPlus. Final levels and curves in PS.  Used the Gradient Exterminator plug-in to clean up the background.
Comments: This beautiful planetary nebula resides in the southern constellation Aquarius at an estimated distance of 650 light years.  It's relatively large as seen from Earth and is the result of an aging star throwing off it's outer layers of gas about 11,000 years ago.  This object has also been known as the "Eye of God" since being imaged by the Hubble Space Telescope several years ago. 

© Dave Dockery 2007