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Sky-Tonight.com / Nebulae / M97
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Observation Settings

Or select it on the map:
This Earth map fragment is intended to illustrate celestial motion across the sky, emphasizing both bearing and elevational perspectives. The map's center point corresponds to the transit, showcasing celestial objects at their highest point, while elevation gradually decreases towards the map edges. This dynamic representation offers insights into the changing positions of celestial bodies with a focus on their bearing and elevational trajectories.
Your location: Columbus, United States
Timezone:
Latitude:
39.9625
Longitude:
-83.0061

Owl Nebula (M97) Observation Details

M97

M97 Daily Motion

M97 is circumpolar, never setting below the horizon and always visible in the night sky from your location. However, it will change its position significantly, moving 70 degrees over time. You can find the best times to observe M97, when it reaches its highest elevation, in the annual motion section.
M97 will be visible until August, 12, when it will move too close to the Sun. During this time, its proximity to the Sun will cause it to disappear from the night sky, making it unobservable for a while.

M97 Visibility Timetable on June 08

M97 Rise and Set Timetable

TimeElevation
M97 is always above the horizon
Moon Rise, 89.5% illuminated17:5367°
M97 transit19:4075°
Sunset20:5770°
Civil sunset21:3166°
Astrosession begin23:0054°
M97 is always above the horizon
Moon Set03:5716°
Astrosession end04:0116°
Civil sunrise05:309°
Sunrise06:047°

Track M97 Position Throughout the Night

← Sun, 8 June 2025 →

Elevation (degrees)
Time02:12
Altitude61°
Azimuth46°
Shift the map to change the time and observe M97 changing position in the night sky.

M97 - Owl Nebula

The Owl Nebula (M97) is a planetary nebula located in the constellation Ursa Major. It was discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1781 and later cataloged by Charles Messier. M97 is known for its round shape and two dark patches that resemble the eyes of an owl.

M97 spans about 2.4 light-years across and contains a central white dwarf star surrounded by a shell of ionized gas. The nebula is approximately 2,030 light-years away from Earth and has an apparent magnitude of 9.9, making it visible with a small telescope.

Finder Chart for M97

Double-click to unlock the map.
Object nameM97
Field of view
Limiting magnitude
M97 coordinates11.24659, 55.01903
Center coordinates11.24659, 55.01903

M97 Passage Through Night

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Current position of M97

Time11:01
Latitude39.9625
Longitude-83.0061
M97 elevation14°
M97 Azimuth-27°
Here you can see the current position of the M97 on the map, as well as its positions for rise and set. This tool allows you to track the M97's movement throughout the night, providing you with accurate and up-to-date information.

Annual motion of M97

Time
DateSun, 8 June 2025
Twighlight start22:55
Twighlight end03:56
Twighlight duration5h 1m
RiseM97 is always up
SetM97 is always up
Elevation at transit75°
Transit time19:36
Equatorial coordinatesRA: 11h 14m 47s", Dec: 55° 01' 08s
Magnitude10
ConstellationUrsa Major
The graph illustrates the annual visibility pattern of a M97, providing a comprehensive overview of its daily appearances and transit times throughout the year.
The graph is structured with the vertical axis showing the hours of the day, ranging from 12 AM to 12 AM the next day, while the horizontal axis spans each day of the year.
The reddish shaded area indicates the periods when the M97 is above the horizon, visible to observers. The white line marks the times when the celestial object reaches its highest point in the sky each day, known as the transit.

Data Credits

The nebulae information on this page is sourced from the OpenNGC project, developed by Matteo Verga. OpenNGC provides detailed data on the NGC catalog, which is a valuable resource for exploring deep-sky objects such as nebulae.

For more details or to contribute to OpenNGC, visit the official GitHub repository: OpenNGC on GitHub.