M97 is a planetary nebula, formed about 6000 years ago when
the star at its center blew off its own outer layers. It has
been called the "Owl Nebula" since the mid-1800s due to the
two dark "eyes" on the face. Those dark "eyes" and uneven edge
indicate that this nebula has a complex structure which is not
yet fully understood. If you look around in the full size version
of this image, you will notice numerous dim galaxies far away in
the background.

Image data:
Camera: Canon 350XT (modified)
Exposure: ISO 800, 5 minutes x 17
Telescope: 10" Schmidt-Newtonian