NGC 7293 in Aquarius, the Helix Nebula

NGC 7293, the Helix Nebula in Aquarius.

More recently named the God's Eye Nebula.

One of the largest as viewed from and perhaps

the closest planetary nebula to our solar system.

Date:  23 Aug and 22 Oct 2022, 19 Aug, 5 Nov, and 15 Nov 2023

FOV:  approximately 75' × 50'; the angular size of NGC 7293 is about 25'

Telescope:  Stellarvue SVX102T + SFFX-1 flattener (738mm, f/7)

Guiding:  ZWO ASI120MM mini mono guide camera,

Stellarvue F050G 50mm guide scope

Computer:  ASIair pro Raspberry Pi

Mount:  iOptron CEM40

Camera:  ZWO ASI071MC Pro Cooled (-10°C) Color CMOS

Pixel size:  4.78 μm

Resolution:  1.336 arcsec/pixel

Frames:  23 Aug 2223 × 240 seconds × 240 gain, Optolong L-eNhanced filter

23 Aug 2214 × 240 seconds ×   90 gain, Baader Light Pollution filter

22 Oct 2254 × 240 seconds × 240 gain, Optolong L-eNhanced filter

19 Aug 2344 × 240 seconds × 240 gain, Optolong L-eNhanced filter

5 Nov 2321 × 240 seconds × 240 gain, Optolong L-Ultimate filter

15 Nov 2314 × 240 seconds × 240 gain, Optolong L-Ultimate filter

Stacking:  one hundred seventy frames using Pixinsight

integrated the 135 L-eNhanced and Baader frames → Full image and

integrated the 35 L-Ultimate frames → Ult image

Calibration:  20 darks, 20 flats, and each session has 20 dark flats

Total Time:  11 hours 20 minutes

Processing:  Pixinsight – extracted R, G, B, from Ult and combined G + B → OIII

LRGB Combination of R, G, OIII → NB

DynAlign and Pixmath Screen Blend → final linear image

DynCrop, SPCC, DBE, SPCC, BlurXT, NoiseXT, HST, GHS, MStr,

PixelMath add MStr + GHS + HST → PM, HDR7, HDR8, Sat, Scale

Location:  Cherry Springs State Park near Coudersport, PA (Full)

and Darling Hill Observatory, near Vesper, NY (NB)