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Created page with "{{Night Sky | image = | designation =Messier 97<br/>NGC 3857 | rightascension =11<sup>h</sup> 14<sup>m</sup> 47.734<sup>s</sup><ref na..."
{{Night Sky
| image =
| designation =[[Messier catalogue|Messier 97]]<br/>[[NGC]] 3857
| rightascension =11<sup>h</sup> 14<sup>m</sup> 47.734<sup>s</sup><ref name=messier-objects>[http://www.messier-objects.com/messier-97-owl-nebula/ Messier 97: Owl nebula] from messier-objects.com</ref>
| declination =+55° 01′ 08.50″<ref name=messier-objects/>
| distance =2,030 ly<ref name=messier-objects/>
| constellation =Ursa Major
| type =Planetary nebula
| dimensions =3.4'x3.3'<ref name=messier-objects/>
| magnitude =Apparent Mag: +9.9<ref name=messier-objects/> Absolute Mag: +0.9<ref>From definition of absolute magnitude, using apparent magnitude and distance given here.</ref>
| redshift =0.00000±0.00001<ref name=simbad>[http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-id?Ident=owl+nebula&NbIdent=1&Radius=2&Radius.unit=arcmin&submit=submit+id M97 Owl nebula] from simbad.u-strasbg.fr</ref>
| radvelocity =0±3 km/s<ref name=simbad/>
| propmotion =RA: -3 mas/yr<ref name=simbad/><br/>Dec.: 11 mas/yr<ref name=simbad/>
| parallax =
}}
The '''Owl nebula''' (M97, NGC 3867) is a [[planetary nebula]] in the [[constellation]] of [[Ursa Major]], the Great bear.<ref name=messier-objects/> Discovered in 1781 by Pierre Méchain, it is one of the four planetary nebulae in the [[Messier catalogue]]. The Owl nebula is located a couple of degrees from the brightest [[star]] in the [[Big Dipper]], Merak. It was named the "Owl nebula" due to its resemblance of a circular face with two large eyes.<ref name=freestarcharts>[https://freestarcharts.com/messier-97 Messier 91] from freestarcharts.com</ref> A similar looking nebula can be seen in the Southern Hemisphere and is known as the Southern Owl nebula. It is one of the faintest [[Messier object#List|Messier objects]] and regarded as one of the most complex planetary nebulae known.
==History==
The nebula was discovered by a [[French]] astronomer, Pierre Méchain, on Febuary 16, 1781.<ref name=seds>[http://www.messier.seds.org/m/m097.html Messier 97] from messier.seds.org</ref> Méchain later informed [[Charles Messier]] of his discovery, who then added it to his [[Messier catalogue|catalogue]]. Messier's description of M97 includes descriptions of two other deep sky objects. These two galaxies were retroactively added to Messier's catalogue after his death as [[Messier 108]] and [[Messier 109]] by Owen Gingerich in 1953.<ref name=messier-objects/> Admiral William Henry Smyth was the first person to identify the Owl nebula as a [[planetary nebula]] in 1837.<ref name=messier-objects/> William Parsons the 3rd Earl of Rosse (sometimes referred to as Lord Rosse) gave the nebula its common name, the "Owl nebula".<ref name=freestarcharts/> The gaseous envelope surrounding central star was first noticed by William Huggins in his study of the nebula's spectrum.
==Properties and Structure==
The nebula distance of some 2,030 [[light year]]s means its apparent size of 3.4x3.3 arc minutes corresponds to a physical [[radius]] of 0.91 ly.<ref name=constellation-guide>[http://www.constellation-guide.com/owl-nebula-messier-97/ Owl nebula: Messier 97] from constellation-guide.com</ref> There is great uncertainty in the exact distance to the nebula, with distances varying from 1,300 to 12,000 light years.<ref name=seds/> The gaseous component of the nebula has a mass estimated to be around 0.13-0.15 solar masses,<ref name=messier-objects/><ref name=seds/> though estimates vary, and is currently expanding at a rate somewhere between 27-39 km/s<ref name=constellation-guide/> The nebula is notably brighter than other planetary nebula, such as the [[Ring nebula]] of the [[Little Dumbbell nebula]].
Spectrums of the nebula have shown it contains a variety of different [[element]]s, including: [[hydrogen]], [[helium]], [[nitrogen]], [[oxygen]] and [[sulfur]].<ref name=messier-objects/> The [[density]] of particles within the nebula is believed to be around 100 particles per cubic centimetre.
The structure of the nebula is thought to be a [[torus]] (doughnut).<ref name=seds/> The nebula is enclosed by another nebula with a lower ionization and so fainter.<ref name=seds/> The "eyes" of the nebula are believed to be due to two jets of matter that point in opposing directions, one towards and one away. Their axis is nearly aligned with us, but not quite. The extra matter in these jets results in less light reaching us from these regions meaning they appear darker. The jets are symmetrical around their axis, so it results in two dark circular patches on the nebula and hence the "eyes."
Like most planetary nebulae, there is a [[white dwarf]] star situated at its centre. Thought to have a mass of 0.7 [[solar mass]]es, it has an estimated temperature of around 123,000 k and a [[radius]] 4% that of the [[Sun]].<ref name=messier-objects/><ref name=constellation-guide/> The star is 41-148 brighter than the Sun, but the nebula's great distance from [[Earth]] means it appears as a star of the 16<sup>th</sup> [[star magnitude|magnitude]].<ref name=messier-objects/>
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Nebulae}}
[[Category:Astronomy]]
[[Category:Nebulae]]
[[Category:Messier Objects]]
| image =
| designation =[[Messier catalogue|Messier 97]]<br/>[[NGC]] 3857
| rightascension =11<sup>h</sup> 14<sup>m</sup> 47.734<sup>s</sup><ref name=messier-objects>[http://www.messier-objects.com/messier-97-owl-nebula/ Messier 97: Owl nebula] from messier-objects.com</ref>
| declination =+55° 01′ 08.50″<ref name=messier-objects/>
| distance =2,030 ly<ref name=messier-objects/>
| constellation =Ursa Major
| type =Planetary nebula
| dimensions =3.4'x3.3'<ref name=messier-objects/>
| magnitude =Apparent Mag: +9.9<ref name=messier-objects/> Absolute Mag: +0.9<ref>From definition of absolute magnitude, using apparent magnitude and distance given here.</ref>
| redshift =0.00000±0.00001<ref name=simbad>[http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-id?Ident=owl+nebula&NbIdent=1&Radius=2&Radius.unit=arcmin&submit=submit+id M97 Owl nebula] from simbad.u-strasbg.fr</ref>
| radvelocity =0±3 km/s<ref name=simbad/>
| propmotion =RA: -3 mas/yr<ref name=simbad/><br/>Dec.: 11 mas/yr<ref name=simbad/>
| parallax =
}}
The '''Owl nebula''' (M97, NGC 3867) is a [[planetary nebula]] in the [[constellation]] of [[Ursa Major]], the Great bear.<ref name=messier-objects/> Discovered in 1781 by Pierre Méchain, it is one of the four planetary nebulae in the [[Messier catalogue]]. The Owl nebula is located a couple of degrees from the brightest [[star]] in the [[Big Dipper]], Merak. It was named the "Owl nebula" due to its resemblance of a circular face with two large eyes.<ref name=freestarcharts>[https://freestarcharts.com/messier-97 Messier 91] from freestarcharts.com</ref> A similar looking nebula can be seen in the Southern Hemisphere and is known as the Southern Owl nebula. It is one of the faintest [[Messier object#List|Messier objects]] and regarded as one of the most complex planetary nebulae known.
==History==
The nebula was discovered by a [[French]] astronomer, Pierre Méchain, on Febuary 16, 1781.<ref name=seds>[http://www.messier.seds.org/m/m097.html Messier 97] from messier.seds.org</ref> Méchain later informed [[Charles Messier]] of his discovery, who then added it to his [[Messier catalogue|catalogue]]. Messier's description of M97 includes descriptions of two other deep sky objects. These two galaxies were retroactively added to Messier's catalogue after his death as [[Messier 108]] and [[Messier 109]] by Owen Gingerich in 1953.<ref name=messier-objects/> Admiral William Henry Smyth was the first person to identify the Owl nebula as a [[planetary nebula]] in 1837.<ref name=messier-objects/> William Parsons the 3rd Earl of Rosse (sometimes referred to as Lord Rosse) gave the nebula its common name, the "Owl nebula".<ref name=freestarcharts/> The gaseous envelope surrounding central star was first noticed by William Huggins in his study of the nebula's spectrum.
==Properties and Structure==
The nebula distance of some 2,030 [[light year]]s means its apparent size of 3.4x3.3 arc minutes corresponds to a physical [[radius]] of 0.91 ly.<ref name=constellation-guide>[http://www.constellation-guide.com/owl-nebula-messier-97/ Owl nebula: Messier 97] from constellation-guide.com</ref> There is great uncertainty in the exact distance to the nebula, with distances varying from 1,300 to 12,000 light years.<ref name=seds/> The gaseous component of the nebula has a mass estimated to be around 0.13-0.15 solar masses,<ref name=messier-objects/><ref name=seds/> though estimates vary, and is currently expanding at a rate somewhere between 27-39 km/s<ref name=constellation-guide/> The nebula is notably brighter than other planetary nebula, such as the [[Ring nebula]] of the [[Little Dumbbell nebula]].
Spectrums of the nebula have shown it contains a variety of different [[element]]s, including: [[hydrogen]], [[helium]], [[nitrogen]], [[oxygen]] and [[sulfur]].<ref name=messier-objects/> The [[density]] of particles within the nebula is believed to be around 100 particles per cubic centimetre.
The structure of the nebula is thought to be a [[torus]] (doughnut).<ref name=seds/> The nebula is enclosed by another nebula with a lower ionization and so fainter.<ref name=seds/> The "eyes" of the nebula are believed to be due to two jets of matter that point in opposing directions, one towards and one away. Their axis is nearly aligned with us, but not quite. The extra matter in these jets results in less light reaching us from these regions meaning they appear darker. The jets are symmetrical around their axis, so it results in two dark circular patches on the nebula and hence the "eyes."
Like most planetary nebulae, there is a [[white dwarf]] star situated at its centre. Thought to have a mass of 0.7 [[solar mass]]es, it has an estimated temperature of around 123,000 k and a [[radius]] 4% that of the [[Sun]].<ref name=messier-objects/><ref name=constellation-guide/> The star is 41-148 brighter than the Sun, but the nebula's great distance from [[Earth]] means it appears as a star of the 16<sup>th</sup> [[star magnitude|magnitude]].<ref name=messier-objects/>
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Nebulae}}
[[Category:Astronomy]]
[[Category:Nebulae]]
[[Category:Messier Objects]]