Provided are a vacuum rectification tower with a satellite-type tower kettle and a vacuum rectification method for atmospheric pressure residual oil. The vacuum rectification tower includes a satellite-surrounded vacuum tower kettle and a rectifying section; the satellite-surrounded vacuum tower kettle includes a main tower kettle and a plurality of sub-reactors arranged outside the main tower kettle in a satellite-surrounded mode; the main tower kettle is provided with a first outlet and a plurality of spray inlets, and a top portion of the main tower kettle has an opening; the sub-reactor is provided with a second outlet and a first inlet, the spray inlets are connected with the second outlets of each sub-reactor in a one-to-one correspondence, and the first outlet is connected with the first inlets. The above vacuum rectification tower is used for treating the atmospheric pressure residual oil, and an extraction rate of light oil may be effectively improved under relatively mild temperature and pressure environment.