Rod Prazeres

Entrant Statement: Captured through vintage optics, this ghostly eye in Aquarius, our closest planetary nebula, unfolds delicate shells of ionised gas exhaled by a dying Sun-like star.

Location: Hillcrest, QLD, Australia, Bortle 6

Equipment: Celestron Ultima 9¼ SCT, ASI2600MM-Pro, Antlia 3nm 36mm H+O filters + Baader CMOS-Optimized RGB

Exposure: Ha: 39x300", 33x600", 26x1000"; Oiii: 40x300", 32x600"; 33x60" each RGB

Total Integration Time: 26h 34'

Celestron Only: Captured using a vintage 1990s Celestron Ultima 9¼ SCT - still delivering sharp deep-sky views decades later.