Imaging the Helix

Using 'Registax' to combine images

  

This uninteresting splodge  is what the HST ‘sees’ through one of its filters when it looks at an object called the Helix Nebula.   In this case a blue filter is being used.   HST can look through a range of filters across a wide expanse of wavelength from ultraviolet to infrared.  To display the image, the individual black and white images are converted into colours and then combined.  In that way even features that are only detectable in invisible wavelengths can yield colour images.

 Your challenge:

 Create a full colour image of the Helix Nebula from three separate colour exposures using Registax.  Then use you knowledge of star life cycles to identify features in the image.

  Click these buttons to get  three exposures of the Helix Nebula.    Save them in your work folder.

 Action Button: Custom:   Red Filter          Action Button: Custom:   Green Filter         Action Button: Custom:   Blue Filter

 I'll now show you how to Import them into RegiStax and adjust to get as much detail as you can.

 Using 'Registax' to combine images

 Check your result against ours

The original data you are working on actually comes from a combination of many HST and ground based images.   Hubble gave the fine detail to the picture.

Hubble data have been superimposed onto ground-based data taken by Travis Rector (NRAO) at the 0.9 meter telescope located on Kitt Peak, Tucson, AZ (NOAO/AURA/NSF). The HST data are from proposal 9700. Processed images may be obtained from the Helix MAST web site. The Hubble Helix Team includes M. Meixner, H.E. Bond, G. Chapman (STScI), Y.-H. Chu (U. Illinois, Urbana-Champaign), P. Cox (Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale, France), W. Crothers, L.M. Frattare, R.Gilliland (STScI), M. Guerrero R. Gruendl (U. Illinois, Urbana-Champaign), F. Hamilton, (STScI), R.Hook (STScI/ESO), P. Huggins (New York Univ.), I. Jordan, C.D. Keyes, A. Koekemoer (STScI), K.Kwitter (Williams College), Z.G. Levay, P.R. McCullough, M. Mutchler, K. Noll (STScI), C.R. O'Dell (Vanderbilt Univ.), N. Panagia, M. Reinhart, M. Robberto, K. Sahu, D. Soderblom, L. Stanghellini, C. Tyler, J. Valenti, A. Welty, R. Williams (STScI).