VISTA’s look at the Helix Nebula
ESO's Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy (VISTA) has captured this unusual view of the Helix Nebula (NGC 7293), a planetary nebula located 700 light-years away. The coloured picture was created from images taken through Y, J and K infrared filters. While bringing to light a rich background of stars and galaxies, the telescope's infrared vision also reveals strands of cold nebular gas that are mostly obscured in visible images of the Helix.
Credit:ESO/VISTA/J. Emerson. Acknowledgment: Cambridge Astronomical Survey Unit
About the Image
| Id: | eso1205a |
| Type: | Observation |
| Release date: | 19 January 2012, 12:00 |
| Related releases: | eso1205 |
| Related announcements: | ann18068 |
| Size: | 6592 x 6592 px |
About the Object
| Name: | Helix Nebula, NGC 7293 |
| Type: | Milky Way : Nebula : Type : Planetary |
| Distance: | 700 light years |
| Constellation: | Aquarius |
| Category: | Nebulae |
Image Formats
Coordinates
| Position (RA): | 22 29 38.61 |
| Position (Dec): | -20° 50' 14.00" |
| Field of view: | 37.51 x 37.51 arcminutes |
| Orientation: | North is 0.0° right of vertical |
View in WorldWide Telescope:
Colours & filters
| Band | Telescope |
|---|---|
| Infrared Y | Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy VIRCAM |
| Infrared Pseudocolour (J+Y) | Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy VIRCAM |
| Infrared K | Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy VIRCAM |
| Infrared K | Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy VIRCAM |
| Infrared J | Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy VIRCAM |