NGC 7009, the Saturn Nebula, is a beautiful and fascinating planetary nebula in the constellation of Aquarius. It is located 4.5 degrees southeast of magnitude 3.8 Albali (Epsilon Aquarii).

It shines at magnitude 8.3 has an apparent size of 22 x 12 arcseconds. The distance to NGC 7009 is uncertain with estimates of 1,400 light-years to 5,200 light-years. At those distances, its true size in space would be between 0.15 light-years and 0.55 light-years.

The hot central white dwarf star that formed the nebula illuminates it with ultraviolet radiation and has a magnitude of 11.5 and a temperature of 55,000 degrees Kelvin. The fluorescing gas in the nebula glows a characteristic blue-green from doubly ionized oxygen.

NGC 7009 was discovered by William Herschel in 1782. In the 1840's it was named the Saturn Nebula by Lord Rosse due to the appearance of the nebula's ansae, which resembled the planet Saturn when its rings were nearly edge-on.

North is to the top in the above image.

NGC 7009 Catalogs: NGC 7009, PK 37-34.1 Common Name: Saturn Nebula Object Type: Planetary Nebula Magnitude: 8.0v Size: 25" x 12" Constellation: Aquarius Image Field Centered At: RA: 21h 04m 56s Dec: -11° 18' 24"