Planetary nebulae like the Helix are sculpted late in a Sun-like star's life by a torrential gush of gases escaping from the dying star. They have nothing to do with planet formation, but got their name because they look like planetary disks when viewed through a small telescope. With higher magnification, the classic "donut-hole" in the middle of a planetary nebula can be resolved. Based on the nebula's distance of 650 light-years, its angular size corresponds to a huge ring with a diameter of nearly 3 light-years. That's approximately three-quarters of the distance between our Sun and the nearest star.

The Helix Nebula is a popular target of amateur astronomers and can be seen with binoculars as a ghostly, greenish cloud in the constellation Aquarius. Larger amateur telescopes can resolve the ring-shaped nebula, but only the largest ground-based telescopes can resolve the radial streaks. After careful analysis, astronomers concluded the nebula really isn't a bubble, but is a cylinder that happens to be pointed toward Earth.

Credit: NASA, NOAO, ESA, the Hubble Helix Nebula Team, M. Meixner (STScI), and T.A. Rector (NRAO).

Government House is located in Sydney alongside the Royal Botanic Gardens, overlooking Sydney Harbour, just south of the Sydney Opera House. Constructed between 1837 and 1843, the property has been the official residence of the Governor of New South Wales since Sir George Gipps in 1845, except for two brief periods; the first between 1901 to 1914, when the property was leased to the Commonwealth of Australia as the residence of the Governor-General of Australia, and the second from 1996 to 2011.

Adobe Lightroom 5.

Nikon D810, Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8G ED.

Photo Settings: 19mm, f/11, 1/10 second, ISO 100.

The rumor on Maui is that the highway that goes around the south is a tough drive. Its slow, but totally doable and has some of the best scenery on the island.

Adobe Lightroom 5.

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM.

This was taken on the south shore in Kauai near Poi'pu. The crew of this boat would sail people towards the sunset while providing diner to couples aboard. I wanted to capture and edit this photo in a way that would give it a feeling of a peaceful dream. Enjoy!

Adobe Lightroom 5, Sigma 17-50mm F/2.8 FLD HSM.

Sony SLT-A58.

Sunset from Cape Arago, Oregon.

Adobe Lightroom 5.

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM.

Photo Settings: 105mm, f/18, 1 second, ISO 100.

This shot is a composite, 5 images I believe...taken hand-held at sunset.

Available in dual and triple monitor resolutions.

On Wednesday I spent 14 hours and drove around 700 miles chasing storms through Kansas and Oklahoma. The "cap" prevented many of the storms from producing much, but we ended the night with a breathtaking sunset that lasted over an hour! What a sight! This is a photo I took near Enid, Oklahoma while we were enjoying the show.

Adobe Lightroom CC, Adobe Photoshop CC.

Canon EOS 5D Mark II.

Photo Settings: 11mm, f/4, 1/50 second, ISO 100.

Created in Adobe Photoshop CS6, this spacescape is designed to work with dark OS themes and interfaces.

It took about 3 hours to create, hope you all enjoy.

An old lonely tower watching over his rough cold cliffs.

O'Briens Tower, Cliffs Of Moher, Ireland. January 2016.

Capture One Pro 9.

Canon EOS 5D Mark III, Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM.

Mount Katahdin from Chimney Peak, Baxter State Park, Millinocket, Maine.

Adobe Lightroom 4.

Canon EOS Rebel T2i, Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM.