October Challenge Object (PN) - NGC7293 (Helix Nebula)

[iceman]

Hi all.

We'd love you to take part in the October Observing and Imaging Challenge (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/index.php?id=69,241,0,0,1,0). Please post your reports and sketches in the Observational Astronomy forum, and your images in the Deep Sky Imaging forum.

Please ensure all images/sketches obey the posting guidelines when you attach them.

While it would be nice if the report, sketch or image were taken in the month of October, it's not essential so feel free to post older reports and images if you're unable to take some new ones.

We look forward to seeing your contributions!

[xrekcor]

Well I might as well move mine in here,

I spent a few night observing the Helix before I tried to sketch it.
The sketch was done over 2-3 nights, still not fully complete as
there are a couple of confirmed stars that haven't been included.

regards,CS

[ausastronomer]

Nice sketch Rob, a lot like what I see at the eyepiece in my 10"

CS-John B

[xrekcor]

Thanks John,

I would of completed it the other night except I spied the Crus quartet, and well what can I say, multiple galaxies are probably my favourites to observe.

regards,CS

[atalas]

Nice drawing Rob , can you see green at the eyepiece ?

Louie

[RapidEye]

It is a nice sketch Rob!

Rob and I have been ping-ponging about the Helix the last month or so over on StarryNights :ashamed:

I dunno about it...
I want to like it, I've tried to like it, it just hasn't grabbed me and pulled me in yet. I'll keep trying, but I find PN's like M27 and M57 MUCH more interesting...

The Helix is BIG - for sure!

In my 10x50's, its barely noticiable without blinking a nebula filter. The filter helps, some, but not as much as it does for the Veil Neb or North American Neb in Cyg.

In my 10" F/5, the 14mm Pentax XW frames it pefectly - but without the UltraBlock filter, its barely visible to me. With the filter, it helps, but it just isn't too impressive - no real structure or features visible. I get some hints of some knottines in it, but nothing like the Veil Neb.

:shrug:
Maybe if it got higher up off of the Southern Horizon - I could appriciate it...
It just doesn't do it for me...:poke:

[CosMos]

The Helix is very easy in 7x50 binoculars from any half decent sky. In a 13" telescope it was bright with a much brighter region in the northern part of the ring from memory. Haven't seen it for a while. Need to look up my observing notes when I get home. :whistle:
Rich

[dhumpie]

I think Rob started this thread before the MOC's were up and we have been having some running discussions on this object. Quite an easy one even from my suburban mag 5.5 skies, with the UHC of course. The object is otherwise invisible. Best views are in my grab and go Orion 80ST at low power where it looks like a much larger ring nebula. Here is an old sketch. I have a newer one that I have not scanned:

http://www.geocities.com/dhumpie/dastro/7293.jpg

Darren