NGC 7293 Helix Nebula - Astrophotography Print

When a smallish star comes to the end of its life it does not go supernova. Instead they expand to become a red giant and their core collapses into a white dwarf. The white dwarf can then ionize those puffed away layers forming a planetary nebula such as this one. NGC 7293, also known as the Helix Nebula is one of the closest such nebulae to the Earth at around 714 light years away. Because of this it is also one of the most studies nebulae in the night sky.