Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/J. Hora (Harvard-Smithsonian CfA)

The Infrared Helix

The Helix Nebula, which is composed of gaseous shells and disks puffed out by a dying sunlike star, exhibits complex structure on the smallest visible scales. In this new image from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, infrared light at wavelengths of 3.2, 4.5, and 8.0 microns has been colored blue, green, and red (respectively). The color saturation also has been increased to intensify hues. The "cometary knots" show blue-green heads due to excitation of their molecular material from shocks or ultraviolet radiation. The tails of the cometary knots appear redder due to being shielded from the central star's ultraviolet radiation and wind by the heads of the knots.

About the Object	Object Name: Helix Nebula, NGC 7293 Object Type: Planetary Nebula Position (J2000): RA: 22h 29m 38.55s Dec: -20¡ 49' 26.0" Distance: 650 light-years (200 parsecs) Constellation: Aquarius
About the Data	Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ J. Hora (Harvard-Smithsonian CfA) Instrument: IRAC Wavelength: 3.6 microns (blue), 4.5 microns (green), 8.0 microns (red) Exposure Date: October 30, 2004 Exposure Time: 160 s per position Field of View: 19.8 x 23.1 arcminutes Orientation: north is 60.9 deg CW from up Release Date: January 9, 2006
Observers	J. L. Hora (CfA) W. B. Latter (NASA/ Herschel Science Center) M. Marengo (CfA) G.G. Fazio (CfA) H.A. Smith (CfA)

Individual Image

Unpackaged, full-field image. Screen-Resolution (387x450): JPEG High-Resolution (2977x3465): JPEG | Mac TIFF | PC TIFF Credit:NASA/JPL-Caltech/J. Hora (Harvard-Smithsonian CfA)

The Spitzer Space Telescope is a NASA mission managed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. This website is maintained by the Spitzer Science Center, located on the campus of the California Institute of Technology and part of NASA's Infrared Processing and Analysis Center.