Deep Space Collection # 7. Helix

The Helix Nebula, also known as NGC 7293 and informally as "The Eye of God" is a planetary nebula located in the constellation Aquarius, approximately 700 light-years away from Earth. Planetary nebulae are formed when the outer layers of a dying star are expelled into space, creating bubble like structures. The intricate and colorful patterns within the nebula are formed by the interaction between the high-energy radiation from the central star and the surrounding gas and dust. About the Deep Space Collection: Shot entirely with my rooftop telescope from the urban skies of Buenos Aires, the Deep Space Collection features many objects observable only from the southern hemisphere. All images in the collection were shot using individual narrowband filters which cut off most of the light and allow only very specific wavelengths to pass (the light emitted from ionized hydrogen, oxygen and sulfur), making it possible to photograph deep space objects even from the highly light polluted skies of the city. The images from each separate filter are then processed individually, combined and mapped to RGB channels for a final color image. Two different color mapping palettes were used in this collection: SHO, where sulfur is mapped to red, hydrogen to green and oxygen to blue in what is referred to as "Hubble Palette" processing (as used in the images the famous space telescope) and HOO, where hydrogen is mapped to red, and oxygen to blue and green.