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Sketches from Mt. Wilson - NGC 7009 the Saturn Nebula

Discovered by William Herschel in 1782, the Saturn Nebula was the first discoveries of William Herschel on September 7, 1782, when he started his great survey. This remarkable planetary nebula has its name from its appearance, which resembles a faint suggestion of the planet Saturn with rings nearly edge-on (Lord Rosse named it in the 1840s). According to Admiral Smyth, the Saturn Nebula was one of Struve's nine "Rare Celestial Objects."

While the Saturn nebula measures 36" in diameter, it has an extended halo of about 100", according to the Sky Catalogue 2000.0. Its central star is rather bright with mag 11.5.

Using 240X using the 100mm (4-inch diameter) Masiama Kellner eyepiece and 400x using the 4-inch diameter 60mm Erfle I could see two "knobs" on the ENE and WSW edges of the disk. The disk face showed some knots or mottling. I saw the central star and another star or knot in the inner disk. Another shell or halo was also observed North south.

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