Messier 97 (M 97)

Introduction | Map | My Best Own Photos | My Own Observations | References || Appendix: My Own Photos

On this page I collect my observations of the planetary nebula M 97 (Owl Nebula; NGC 3587) in the constellation Ursa Major.

Introduction

The planetary nebula M 97 (Owl Nebula) in the constellation Ursa Major is one of four planetary nebulae in the Messier catalogue and the second faintest of these. In the eVscope it appears like a greenish dot with two darker spots. Close to it there is the spiral galaxy M 108. In the Vespera (Pro), both DSO can be observed jointly.

M 97 (Owl Nebula; NGC 3587)		M 108 (NGC 3556)
Size: 3.3' (Stoyan) Distance: 1,300 light years (Stoyan) Rating: ** (Stoyan)		Size: 5' x 1.5' (Stoyan) Distance: 45 million light years Rating: ** (Stoyan)

Map

M 97 (Owl Nebula) in constellation Ursa Major is close to the galaxy M 108 (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

My Best Own Photos

eVscope


M 97 - Feb 20, 2021	M 97 - Mar 6, 2021	M 97 - Mar 6, 2021

M 97 - Feb 20, 2021, photo on top processed	M 97 - Mar 6, 2021, photo on top processed	M 97 - Mar 6, 2021, photo on top processed

Vespera

M 97 & M 108 , Aug 28, 2022 - original (61 frames = 610 seconds)

Vespera Pro


M 97 & M 108, May 22, 2024 - 2000p (54 frames = 540s)		M 97 & M 108, May 22, 2024 - 2000p (54 frames = 540s), processed

M 97 & M 108, May 25, 2024 - 2000p (150 frames = 1500s)		M 97 & M 108, May 25, 2024 - 2000p (150 frames = 1500s), processed (PSE)

M 97 & M 108, May 25, 2024 - 2000p (150 frames = 1500s), additionally denoised (DN)

Own Observations

Observations March to July 2020

March 14 and 23, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 97 photographed.
April 19, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 97 photographed, somewhat fuzzy.
April 21, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 97 photographed.
May 5, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 97 photographed at nearly full moon in the new rectangular format without overlay.
June 12, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 97 photographed (n.o., r.f.)
July 18, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 97 photographed (n.o., r.f.)

Observations February to March 2021

February 20, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 97 photographed (n.o., r.f.).
March 6, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 97 photographed (n.o., r.f.), exposed manually.

Observations April 2022

April 9, 2022 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope 2): M 97 photographed (app version 1.5), faint...
April 10, 2022 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope 2): M 97 photographed (app version 1.5), very faint, photo discarded
May 6, 2022 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Atik Infinity, PS72): M 97 photographed (was not able to photograph it together with M 108).

Observations August 2022

August 28, 2022 (Sumène/France: Vespera): M 97 photographed together with M 108

Observations May 2024

May 22, 2024 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Vespera Pro): M 97 and M 108 photographed, poor and noisy; aborted after 9 minutes because of clouds
May 25, 2024 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Vespera Pro): M 97 and M 108 photographed (25 min)

References

Messier Catalogue - Messier 97: messier.seds.org/m/m097.html
Messier 97 (Wikipedia): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messier_97, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Owl_Nebula
Messier 108 (Wikipedia): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messier_108

On this Site

Appendix: My Own Photos

Atik Infinity

M 97 - May 6, 2022

eVscope


M 97 - Mar 14, 2020	M 97 - Mar 23, 2020	M 97 - Mar 23, 2020

M 97 - Mar 14, 2020, photo on top processed	M 97 - Mar 23, 2020, photo on top processed	M 97 - Mar 23, 2020, photo on top processed

M 97 - Apr 19, 2020	M 97 - Apr 21, 2020	M 97 - Apr 21, 2020

M 97 - Apr 19, 2020, photo on top processed	M 97 - Apr 21, 2020, photo on top processed	M 97 - Apr 21, 2020, photo on top processed

M 97 - May 5, 2020	M 97 - Jun 12, 2020	M 97 - Jul 18, 2020

M 97 - May 5, 2020, photo on top processed	M 97 - Jun 12, 2020, photo on top processed	M 97 - Jul 18, 2020, photo on top processed

M 97 - Jul 18, 2020	M 97 - Feb 20, 2021	M 97 - Feb 20, 2021

M 97 - Jul 18, 2020, photo on top processed	M 97 - Feb 20, 2021, photo on top processed	M 97 - Feb 20, 2021, photo on top processed

M 97 - Mar 6, 2021	M 97 - Mar 6, 2021

M 97 - Mar 6, 2021, photo on top processed	M 97 - Mar 6, 2021, photo on top processed

eVscope 2


M 97 - Apr 9, 2022		M 97 - Apr 9, 2022, photo left processed

Vespera

M 97 & M 108 , Aug 28, 2022 - original (61 frames = 610 seconds)

Vespera Pro


M 97 & M 108, May 22, 2024 - 2000p (54 frames = 540s)		M 97 & M 108, May 22, 2024 - 2000p (54 frames = 540s), processed

M 97 & M 108, May 25, 2024 - 2000p (150 frames = 1500s)		M 97 & M 108, May 25, 2024 - 2000p (150 frames = 1500s), processed (PSE)

M 97 & M 108, May 25, 2024 - 2000p (150 frames = 1500s), additionally denoised (DN)