NGC 7293, Caldwell 63, Helix Nebula
This image of the Helix Nebula (NGC 7293) was created from images obtained using the Wide Field Imager (WFI), an astronomical camera attached to the Max-Planck Society/ESO telescope at the La Silla observatory in Chile. The blue-green glow in the center of the Helix comes from oxygen atoms shining under effects of the intense ultraviolet radiation of the 120,000 degree Celsius central star. Further out from the star and beyond the ring of knots, the red color from hydrogen and nitrogen is more prominent. A careful look at the central part of this object reveals not only the knots, but also many remote galaxies seen right through the thinly spread glowing gas.
Size: 7059px × 6535px
Photo credit: © Photo Researchers / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: 63, 7293, astronomical, astronomy, body, caldwell, celestial, deep, exploration, formation, forming, galaxies, galaxy, heavenly, helix, nebula, nebulae, ngc, ngc7293, object, radiation, science, sky, space, star, stellar, universe, wind
