Helix  - Prime Focus Pictures
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Helix Nebula

The above is a 54 frame image from the HAS site, Sept. 14-17, 2007.  It was "runner up" in the Yahoo Group digital_astro in the September 2007 challenge.

The Helix is a Planetary Nebula and is designated as NGC7293 (NGC 7293).  "The Helix Nebula is one of the closest of all planetary nebulae: Lying at a distance of perhaps 450 light years..." says  SEDSs on this web page, which has good info on the Helix.  They're "aged" stars that puff off their outer layers at some point. 

Want  info on  what a planetary nebula is?  This page is good.  All the pictures from this trip are here.

Image details. Only 54 x 4 = 216 minutes (3.6 hours) total exposures 9/2007 at the HAS site near Columbus.  Canon EOS 20Da (unmodified), Takahashi TOA 130 (a 5" APO refractor) with Tak flattener, and Astro-Physics AP 900GTO mount.    My current image processing workflow is here.