Helix Nebula (NIRcam image, annotated)

This image of the Helix Nebula, captured by the NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) instrument on the James Webb Space Telescope includes compass arrows, scale bar, and color key for reference.

To create this image, near-infrared wavelengths of light have been translated into visible-light colors. The color key at the bottom shows which NIRCam filters were used, and which visible-light color was assigned to that filter.

The north and east compass arrows show the orientation of the image on the sky. Note that the relationship between north and east on the sky (as seen from below) is flipped relative to direction arrows on a map of the ground (as seen from above).

[Image description: Image titled “James Webb Space Telescope, Helix Nebula, NGC 7293” with compass arrows, scale bar, and color key. The image shows thousands of orange and gold comet-like pillars streaming upward from the bottom, like thin liquid blown up a sheet of glass. These pillars are around the circumference of the arced shell, which forms a partial orange semi-circle at the bottom. Several bright blue stars are scattered throughout. At the bottom left are compass arrows indicating the orientation of the image on the sky. The north arrow points in the 2 o’clock direction. The east arrow points toward 11 o’clock. At the lower right is a scale bar labeled .25 light-years. The length of the scale bar is about one-fifth the total width of the image. Below the image is a color key showing which NIRCam filters were used to create the image and which visible-light color is assigned to each filter. From left to right, NIRCam filters are: F115W and F187N are blue, F212N and F356W are green, F444W and F470N are red.]