Object Analysis

The Saturn Nebula (NGC 7009) is a planetary nebula in the constellation Aquarius. It appears as a greenish-yellowish hue in a small amateur telescope. It was discovered by William Herschel in 1782, one of his earliest discoveries.

The nebula gets its name from its resemblance to the planet Saturn with its rings seen nearly edge-on. This shape is due to two "ansae" (handles)—low-density jets of gas that protrude from either side of the main nebula. These jets were ejected from the central star before the main nebula formed.

Located between 2,000 and 4,000 light-years away, the central star is a very hot bluish dwarf with a temperature of 55,000 K. The complex internal structure suggests the central star may be part of a binary system, the interactions of which shaped the gas ejection.