PLANETARY NEBULAE by Ted Forte Springtime Blossoms THIS NEBULA'S A HOOT In his eyepiece, Lord Rosse saw the two darker features as an owl's eyes, and hence M97 is fondly also known as the Owl Nebula. You'll find this planetary just outside the Big Dipper's bowl, some 2.3° southeast of Merak (Beta Ursae Majoris). 58 MARCH 2 021 * SK Y & TELESCOPE