7/4/2012 #Astronomy
Deep Sky Object: The Owl Nebula (also known as Messier Object 97 or NGC 3587) is a planetary nebula in the constellation Ursa Major. M97 is regarded as one of the more complex of the planetaries. The 16th magnitude central star has about 0.7 solar mass and the nebula itself about 0.15 solar mass. The nebula formed roughly 6,000 years ago. The nebula gets its name from the appearance of owl-like "eyes" when viewed through a large (>200 mm) telescope under dark sky conditions with the aid of a so-called "nebula filter."
Watching fireworks this evening? As you're waiting for darkness to arrive, point out the two brightest stars of summer: Vega very high in the east, and Arcturus very high in the southwest. http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/ataglance
Far below Arcturus are Saturn and, just under it, Spica. Off to their right and perhaps a bit lower is orangy little Mars. http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/ataglance
Earth is at aphelion, its farthest from the Sun for the year (just 1/30 farther than at perihelion in January). http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/ataglance