*Description*:> A Video News Release explains how the shapes of planetary nebulae are deceiving. Astronomers combined highly detailed images of the Helix Nebula from the Hubble Space Telescope's Advanced Camera for Surveys, with images from the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile. From these observations, they were able to analyze the data and construct a 3-D model from measurements of the Helix Nebula using ground-based optical and radio telescopes to show the speed and direction of the outflows of material from the nebula. The team found surprises in their data that indicate that the Helix's structure is even more perplexing than originally thought. Technical facts about this news release: About the Object Object Name: Helix Nebula, NGC 7293 Object Description: Planetary Nebula Position (J2000): R.A. 22h 29m 48.20s Dec. -20° 49' 26.0" Constellation: Aquarius Distance: About 690 light-years (213 parsecs) Dimensions: The image is roughly 287 arcminutes (5.6 light-years or 1.7 parsecs) across. About the Data Data Description: The HST data are from proposal 9700. Processed images may be obtained from the Helix MAST web site [ http://archive.stsci.edu/hst/helix ]. 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 University), N. Panagia, M. Reinhart, M. Robberto, K. Sahu, D. Soderblom, L. Stanghellini, C. Tyler, J. Valenti, A. Welty, R. Williams (STScI). The CTIO data were taken by C.R. O'Dell (Vanderbilt University) and L.M. Frattare (STScI). The science team includes C.R. O'Dell (Vanderbilt University), P.R. McCullough and M. Meixner (STScI). Instrument: ACS/WFC Mosaic II Camera on CTIO 4m telescope Exposure Date(s): November 19, 2002 September 17/18, 2003 Exposure Time: 4.5 hours 10 minutes Filters: F502N ([O III]), F658N (Ha) c6009 (H alpha), kc6014 ([O III]) About the Image Image Credit: NASA, ESA, and C.R. O'Dell (Vanderbilt University) Release Date: December 16, 2004 Orientation: Helix Nebula As Seen By Hubble and the Cerro Toledo Inter-American Observatory [ http://imgsrc.hubblesite.org/hu/db/2004/32/images/b/formats/compass_large_web.jpg ] *News Release Number:*: STScI-2004-32b
