NGC 7009
The Saturn Nebula

Combination of 8, 2 minute exposures, SBIG ST-8E CCD.
16" f/15 refractor at prime focus.

The Saturn nebula has for a long time been one of my favourite planetary nebulae. It is situated in Aquarius, about 3 degrees north-east of M72. The easiest way of locating it is to find the 4th magnitude star nu aquari. NGC 7009 is a little over 1 degree to the west of this star.

NGC 7009 is a fairly small object, just a little larger than the actual planet Saturn, but at 8th magnitude, quite bright. In an 8" telescope, the nebula shows a small, ellipitical disk with a very strong greenish colour. The two "handles", or ansae which give the nebula its common name can be discerned using high magnification, which the nebula bears well. In a 12", the ansae are easy to observe.

Combination of 5, 3 minute exposures using H-alpha and Sulphur II filters,
and 3, 3 minute exposures using an Oxygen III filter.
SBIG ST-8XE CCD. 300mm f/6 newtonian telescope at prime focus.

Combination of 5, 3 minute images unfiltered.
SBIG STL-1001E CCD. 20" f/6.8 Dall-Kirkham cassegrain telescope at prime focus.