Zooming into the Helix Nebula & An infrared/visible light comparison

Zooming into the Helix Nebula. This zoom sequence starts with a wide-field view of the rather empty region of sky around the constellation of Aquarius. As we close in we can see the faint ring shape of the Helix Nebula (NGC 7293), one of the closest planetary nebulae to the Earth. In the final sequence we see a new image of the Helix taken in infrared light with the VISTA telescope at ESO's Paranal Observatory in Chile. Credit: ESO/VISTA/J. Emerson/S. Brunier/A. Fujjii/Digitized Sky Survey 2 Acknowledgment: Cambridge Astronomical Survey Unit

An infrared/visible light comparison of views of the Helix Nebula. This comparison video shows a new view of the Helix Nebula acquired with the VISTA telescope in infrared light (left) along with the more familiar view in visible light from the MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope (right). The infrared vision of VISTA reveals strands of cold nebular gas that are mostly obscured in visible light images of the Helix.Credit: ESO/VISTA/J. Emerson. Acknowledgment: Cambridge Astronomical Survey Unit

Zooming into the Helix Nebula & An infrared/visible light comparison