Object Description: Shown is the Helix Nebula, classified as NGC7293. This is the closest example to Earth of a planetary nebula. Created by the the castoff shell of a dying star, it is approximately 450 light-years away in the constellation Aquarius.

Telescope: Takahashi FSQ106N
Camera: Canon 40D modified w/ Baader UV/IR cut filter
Mount: ParamountME unguided
Filters: no filters

Date Taken: 25OCT2008
Location: Lot4, Arcturus Way, Sacramento Mountains Astronomy Park, Weed, NM
Sky Conditions: transparency 4/5, seeing 4/5, temp 7C
Image Acquisition: 36x300s, iso800, using CCDCommander & CCDSoft

Image Processing: ImagesPlus 3.75 used for data reduction, alignment, SigmaMedian combine, initial DDP. PSCS2 used for levels, curves, and color enhancement. GradX for background equalization.