by The Helix Nebula (also known as NGC 7293 or Caldwell 63) is a planetary nebula (PN) located in the constellation Aquarius.
Discovered by Karl Ludwig Harding, most likely before 1824, this object is one of the closest of all the bright planetary nebulae to Earth.
The distance, measured by the Gaia mission, is 655±13 light-years.
The Helix Nebula has sometimes been referred to as the "Eye of God" .
Expansion of the whole planetary nebula structure is estimated to have occurred in the last 6,560 years, and 12,100 years for the inner disk.
Spectroscopically, the outer ring's expansion rate is 40 km/s, and about 32 km/s for the inner disk.
Source
Discovered by Karl Ludwig Harding, most likely before 1824, this object is one of the closest of all the bright planetary nebulae to Earth.
The distance, measured by the Gaia mission, is 655±13 light-years.
The Helix Nebula has sometimes been referred to as the "Eye of God" .
Expansion of the whole planetary nebula structure is estimated to have occurred in the last 6,560 years, and 12,100 years for the inner disk.
Spectroscopically, the outer ring's expansion rate is 40 km/s, and about 32 km/s for the inner disk.
Source
