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Object Type: Planetary nebula
Constellation: Aquarius
Magnitude: 7.3
Size: 16' x 28'

NGC 7293 is one of the closest planetary nebulae to our solar system, at a distance of about 450 light-years, and is also one of the largest in apparent size. Despite having an integrated magnitude of 7.3, its large size and low surface brightness make it moderately challenging to see without a filter. Its double ring structure gives rise to its common name of the Helix Nebula.

Equipment: 14" Meade LX200R/STL-11000M/Astrodon LRGB filters/Paramount ME
F-ratio: f/9.5
Exposures: LRGB:  L 8 x 5 minutes, binned 2x2: R 8 x 5 minutes: G 8 x 5 minutes: B 8 x  minutes: RGB binned 3x3
Date: September 16, 2006
Location: Landers, California, USA
Technical Notes: Individual exposures were obtained using CCDAutoPilot2 and then sigma combined. The RGB image was created in Registar 1.0. A high-pass filter with a radius of 8 pixels was selectively applied to a copy of the luminance image, while Gaussian Blur of 1.0 pixel was applied to the dimmer portions, and to the RGB image.