Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Ursa Major (UMa)  ·  Contains:  M 97  ·  NGC 3587  ·  Owl Nebula
Owl Nebula (Messier 97), Paul
Owl Nebula (Messier 97)
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Owl Nebula (Messier 97)

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Description

The Owl Nebula, also known as Messier 97 (M97) or NGC 3587, is a planetary nebula located in the constellation Ursa Major, approximately 2,000 light-years away from Earth. It was discovered by French astronomer Pierre Méchain in 1781. The nebula gets its name from its distinctive owl-like appearance, featuring two dark, circular patches resembling eyes against a glowing, round gas cloud.The Owl Nebula is formed by the outer layers of gas expelled from a dying red giant star at its core. As the star reaches the end of its life, it sheds its outer layers, which are then ionized by the remaining hot core, emitting light and creating the beautiful, glowing appearance of the nebula. The central star of the Owl Nebula is a faint, white dwarf, and the nebula itself spans roughly 0.9 light-years across.

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Owl Nebula (Messier 97), Paul