M 97 - NGC 3587 - The Owl Nebula
Ursa Major
Penryn, California
February 2010
M 250 @ f9.3 (ag, ST-4)
ST-2000XM LRGB 10 minute subs
M 97 is one of the larger planetary nebula but rather featureless in small
telescopes due to the low surface brightness. Lord Rosse in 1848 saw a
striking resemblance to an Owl's face. It is believed the nebula is at
about 1630 light years.
M97 is a multi-shell bi-polar planetary, recent studies indicate 3 and possibly
4 shells are present.
The small galaxy near the star at lower right is PGC 34279.