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Helix Nebula
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{{short description|Planetary nebula in the constellation Aquarius}} {{For|the different but similarly named nebula|Double Helix Nebula}} {{Redirect|Eye of God|the religious symbol|All-Seeing Eye of God|other uses}} {{Planetary nebula | name = Helix Nebula, NGC 7293 | type = Planetary | image = File:NGC7293 (2004).jpg | caption= NGC 7293 seen through several visible filters by [[Hubble Space Telescope]] | credit = | epoch = [[J2000]] | ra = {{RA|22|29|38.55}}<ref name="simbad">{{cite simbad | title=NGC 7293 | access-date=2006-12-07}}</ref> | dec = {{DEC|-20|50|13.6}}<ref name="simbad" /> | dist_ly = {{val|200|1|ul=pc}} ({{val|650|3}}) | appmag_v = +7.6<ref name="simbad" /> | size_v = 25β²<ref name="ODelletal2004" /> | constellation = [[Aquarius (constellation)|Aquarius]] | radius_ly = 2.87 ly (0.88 pc)<ref name="ODelletal2004" /> | absmag_v = | notes = One of the nearest PNe | names = [[New General Catalogue|NGC]] 7293<ref name="simbad" /> [[Caldwell catalogue|Caldwell]] 63 }} The '''Helix Nebula''' (also known as '''NGC 7293''' or '''Caldwell 63''') is a [[planetary nebula]] (PN) located in the [[constellation]] [[Aquarius (constellation)|Aquarius]]. Discovered by [[Karl Ludwig Harding]], most likely before 1824, this object is one of the closest of all the bright planetary nebulae to Earth.<ref name="Horaetal2006">{{cite journal | author=Hora, Joseph L. | author2=Latter, William B. | author3=Smith, Howard A. | author4=Marengo, Massimo | title=Infrared Observations of the Helix Planetary Nebula | journal=The Astrophysical Journal | date=2006 | volume=652 | issue=1 | pages=426β441 | bibcode=2006ApJ...652..426H | doi=10.1086/507944 |arxiv = astro-ph/0607541 | s2cid=15427995 }}</ref> The distance, measured by the ''[[Gaia (spacecraft)|Gaia]]'' mission, is 655Β±13 light-years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-ref?bibcode=2018yCat.1345....0G|title=SIMBAD references}}</ref> It is similar in appearance to the [[Cat's Eye Nebula]] and the [[Ring Nebula]], whose size, age, and physical characteristics are in turn similar to the [[Dumbbell Nebula]], differing only in their relative proximity and the appearance from the equatorial viewing angle.<ref name="ODelletal2002">{{cite journal | author=O'Dell, C. R. | display-authors=4 | author2=Balick, B. | author3=Hajian, A. R. | author4=Henney, W. J. | author5=Burkert, A. | title=Knots in Nearby Planetary Nebulae | journal=The Astronomical Journal | date=2002 | volume=123 | issue=6 | pages=3329β3347 | bibcode=2002AJ....123.3329O | doi=10.1086/340726 | doi-access=free }}</ref> The Helix Nebula has sometimes been referred to as the "Eye of God" in [[pop culture]],<ref>{{cite web | title=Urban Legends Reference Pages | work=The Eye of God | date=5 February 2004 | url=http://www.snopes.com/photos/space/eyeofgod.asp | access-date=2007-07-16 }}</ref> as well as the "[[Eye of Sauron]]".<ref>{{cite journal |url= http://www.skyandtelescope.com/online-gallery/the-eye-of-sauron-aka-ngc7293/ |title= The Eye of Sauron (aka NGC7293) |journal= Sky and Telescope }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.universetoday.com/97713/eye-like-helix-nebula-turns-blue-in-new-image/ |title = Eye-Like Helix Nebula Turns Blue in New Image |author = Nancy Atkinson |date = 4 October 2012 |publisher = [[Universe Today]] |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140714152714/http://www.universetoday.com/97713/eye-like-helix-nebula-turns-blue-in-new-image/ |archive-date = 14 July 2014 }}</ref>
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