C55 — Saturn Nebula
Planetary Nebula in Aquarius
About
The Saturn Nebula, NGC 7009, is a planetary nebula in Aquarius. Estimates put it a few thousand light-years away, from about 3,900 to 5,200. Its two side projections look like Saturn's rings seen edge-on, and a very hot central star makes the gas glow green.
Imaging tips
- Only about 2′ across, so it is too small to frame: use a long focal length and a fine pixel scale.
- Bright for a nebula at 18.1 mag/arcsec², so the core saturates easily; one deep image mixed 30 s and 300 s subs.
- Hα and OIII narrowband work well, and one 56.8-hour image added RGB for star colour at 0.53″ per pixel.
- Best in July and August; it stays below 29° altitude from 50°N.
Facts
- Size
- 2′
- Magnitude
- 8.0
- Coordinates
- RA 21h 4.2m, Dec −11° 22′
- Framing, APS-C
- longer than 4000 mm
- Framing, full frame
- longer than 4000 mm
- Best months
- Jul, Aug
- Peak altitude
- 29° from 50°N, 44° from 35°N