NGC7293 The Helix Nebula

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The Helix Nebula is a planetary nebula in the constellation Aquarius. The Helix Nebula is also known as NGC 7293 and itīs sometimes called the Sunflower Nebula. This planetary nebula is our nearest neighbour and is about 450, l.y. away, and the largest in apperant size, nearly 1/4°. Itīs also the brightest of all planetaries. It is ionized by a very hot 13th-magnitude central star of temperature 50.000 k. I have never seen it because I live in the northern hemesphere. But Iīve been told that itīs visible in binoculars as a faint patch. But youīll need telescope to show it clearly because it lies so near v (Upsilon). 

            M Number  NGC   Const   Mag     RA       dec       Type
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             M8      7293 Aquarius  6.5  22h 29.6m  -20° 48ī  Planetary
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