Messier 97

97 final

Object:   M97 Owl Nebula (NGC 3587) Date:               2018 May 2
Type:  Planetary Nebula
Constellation:           Ursa Major Time & altitude:        22.45 UT      70º
Catalogue data: Seeing (5 high):                               4/5
            R.A:                11h 15m Transparency (5 high):                   3/5
            Dec:                55º 01 Telescope:     0.5m f4.1  Dob.
            Magnitude     11 Eyepiece       8mm Ethos                x260
            Size (mins)    3 Filters:            With & without Lumicon OIII

Notes:

A lot of moisture in the air. The Moon, 3 days past full is low in the SE, is slightly dimmed by cloud. The unfiltered view of M97 is of a disk evenly illuminated across most of its diameter, and then quickly fading to nothing. The overall shape is slightly oval, major and minor axes in ratio 6:5 with the major axis aligned NE-SW.

The OIII filter renders the famous “eyes” visible but only just.  The W “eye” is fairly obvious but the other is a difficult feature to pick out.  I did not notice the 14.5m central star. No impression of colour.