Messier 97, also known as the Owl Nebula, is a planetary nebula located in the constellation Ursa Major. It was discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1781 and later included in the Messier catalog by Charles Messier. The nebula is approximately 2,030 light-years away from Earth and has a diameter of about 1.4 light-years. The Owl Nebula gets its name from its resemblance to an owl's face, with two bright regions resembling eyes. It is composed of gas and dust expelled from a dying star, which is now a white dwarf at its center. The nebula's distinct features are best observed through telescopes.