Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Ursa Major (UMa)  ·  Contains:  M 97  ·  NGC 3587  ·  NGC 3594  ·  Owl Nebula
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M97 OWL NEBULA, Filippo Bonfante
M97 OWL NEBULA
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M97 OWL NEBULA

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M97 OWL NEBULA, Filippo Bonfante
M97 OWL NEBULA
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M97 OWL NEBULA

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Description

The M97 Owl Nebula is a planetary nebula located in the constellation Ursa Major. It is also known by the catalog names NGC 3587 and the Owl Nebula. This celestial object was discovered by French astronomer Pierre Méchain in 1781, and it was later cataloged by Charles Messier that same year.

The Owl Nebula gets its name from its appearance, as the two dark patches of gas and dust on either side of the central region resemble the eyes of an owl. The central star of M97 is a binary system, consisting of a white dwarf surrounded by a dense shell of ionized gas. The nebula's distinctive appearance is due to the interaction between the intense radiation from the central star and the surrounding gas.

M97 is located at a distance of approximately 2,600 light-years from Earth. It is a popular target for amateur astronomers due to its relatively bright appearance and intriguing structure. Observers using telescopes can appreciate the owl-like features and the faint outer regions of the nebula.

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M97 OWL NEBULA, Filippo Bonfante