Choose your language:
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 |
| Size: | 6592 x 6592 px |
About the Object
| Name: | Helix Nebula, NGC 7293 |
| Type: | • Milky Way : Nebula : Type : Planetary • Nebulae |
| Distance: | 700 light years |
Colours & filters
| Band | Telescope |
| Infrared Y |
Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy (VISTA) VIRCAM |
| Infrared Pseudocolour (J+Y) |
Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy (VISTA) VIRCAM |
| Infrared K |
Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy (VISTA) VIRCAM |
| Infrared J |
Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy (VISTA) VIRCAM |
| Infrared K |
Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy (VISTA) VIRCAM |
Images
Zoomable
Wallpapers
