The Owl Nebula is a captivating planetary nebula formed by a dying star shedding its outer layers. Its distinctive appearance, resembling an owl’s face with two dark “eyes,” has made it a popular target for astrophotographers. Despite its relatively small size, M97 offers intricate structures and delicate hues, showcasing a glowing greenish-blue outer shell surrounding a central core. The nebula’s unique shape and features provide an excellent opportunity for both visual observers and astrophotographers to capture the beauty of stellar evolution.
Names and Catalog numbers
- Owl Nebula
- Messier: M97
- NGC: NGC 3587
Position and the cosmic neighborhood
Messier 97 can be found in the northern hemisphere of the sky, near the celestial equator in the constellation Ursa Major. To locate it, observers can use the tail of the Big Dipper as a reference, drawing an imaginary line towards the bright North Star. The Owl Nebula is conveniently positioned about 2.5 degrees southeast of Merak, one of the bright stars forming the bowl of the Big Dipper. Interestingly, M97 shares its cosmic neighborhood with the Surfboard Galaxy (M108), which can often be captured in the same field of view, making this area particularly appealing for wide-field astrophotography.
Nice to Know
- The Owl Nebula’s distinctive appearance, resembling an owl’s face, was first noted by William Parsons in 1848 during his observations with the Leviathan of Parsonstown telescope.
- M97 is estimated to be about 8,000 years old, showcasing a relatively young stage in the life cycle of planetary nebulae.
- The central star of the Owl Nebula is a variable star, experiencing fluctuations in brightness over time.
- Two jets of dusty material emitted by the central star create the dark “eyes” that give the nebula its owl-like appearance.
Brightness, distance and size
The Owl Nebula shines with an apparent magnitude of approximately 9.9, making it visible through small telescopes or binoculars under dark sky conditions. Located about 2,030 light-years from Earth, M97 spans roughly 3 light-years in diameter. In terms of angular size, the nebula appears about 3.4 arcminutes across in the night sky, which is equivalent to about one-tenth the apparent size of the full Moon. This combination of moderate brightness and compact size makes the Owl Nebula a challenging yet rewarding target for astrophotographers, especially when capturing its intricate structures and the subtle variations in its glowing gases.
