M108 & The Owl Nebula (M97)

     This uncommon pairing of interesting objects is found in the constellation Ursa Major.  M108 is an interesting edge-on spiral galaxy with complex dust lane structure while M97 (commonly known as the Owl Nebula for it's round shape with shadowed eyes) is a bright planetary nebula formed from an aging star.  Click on the image or this link for a close up of M97.  Seeing these two objects together provides an excellent contrast in relative distance and size among observed celestial objects.  M108 is far beyond our Milky Way galaxy at about 45 million light years away from the Earth while M97 (as are all observable planetary nebula) is much closer at only about 2,600 light years away centered in our region within the Milky Way galaxy

Comments: Clear skies, pleasant, no wind.  Clouded over at the end of the last subframe.