NGC 7293, better known as the Helix Nebula, is a planetary nebula located approximately 655 light-years away in the constellation Aquarius. Often nicknamed the “Eye of God” for its shape, the Helix represents the final stages in the life of a Sun-like star, as it sheds its outer layers into space. The exposed stellar core, a white dwarf, remains at the center, illuminating the surrounding gases in vivid emission.

This image is a deep and highly detailed view composed of more than 115 hours of integration: 289 exposures in H-alpha, 186 in SII, 180 in OIII (each 600 seconds), and shorter RGB exposures to preserve color fidelity. The resulting composite reveals intricate filaments of ionized gas and the faint outer halo, rarely captured in such clarity. The contrast between the bright inner ring and the extended tendrils of gas adds striking dimensionality to this iconic object.