Saturn Nebula
Planetary nebula

Saturn Nebula

NGC 7009 · Aquarius
These photons are ~1,600 years old
UV/IR
Date
2025-09-21
Location
36.3860° N, 28.0409° E
Integration
16m (49 × 20s)
Software
ZWO Seestar app
Notes
—
Plate solve
Centre RA
21h 03m 58.3s
Centre Dec
−11° 09′ 46″
Field
42.7′ × 76.0′
Pixel scale
2.37″/px
Orientation
-173.9° E of N
TelescopeZWO Seestar S50
CameraZWO Seestar S50 Camera
RigFamily Holiday Rig
Captured from · Ελλάς
36.3860° N, 28.0409° E · open map ↗

Where to find it

Interactive sky chart centred on 21 03 58.3 -11 09 46, with constellation stick figures overlaid. Locate shows the whole constellation with the target ringed; Field zooms to the close-up. Drag to pan, scroll to zoom, click any star to identify it. Imagery: DSS colour survey via CDS Aladin Lite. Constellation figures © Dominic Ford (GPLv3).

One of the brightest planetary nebulae, named for its elongated extensions (ansae) resembling Saturn’s rings when seen at high magnification. The multi-shell structure and vivid green-blue OIII colour make it striking in any imaging system.

Frequently asked questions

What kind of object is NGC 7009?
NGC 7009 is a planetary nebula.
Which constellation is NGC 7009 in?
NGC 7009 lies in the constellation Aquarius.
How far away is NGC 7009?
The light in this image left NGC 7009 roughly ~1,600 years ago, so that is how far back in time you are seeing it.
What are the coordinates of NGC 7009?
NGC 7009 sits at right ascension 21h 03m 58s and declination −11° 09′ 46″ (J2000).
When is the best time to photograph NGC 7009?
NGC 7009 rides highest in the evening sky around August, reaching about 25° above the horizon from around 54°N.
What equipment was used to photograph NGC 7009?
This image of NGC 7009 was captured with ZWO Seestar S50 and ZWO Seestar S50 Camera.
How much exposure time went into this image?
This image of NGC 7009 represents 16m (49 × 20s) of total integration time.