Lord Rosse's drawings of M97, the Owl Nebula

[M97 'Owl', Lord Rosse]

Drawing of the Owl Nebula by William Parsons, the Third Earl of Rosse. He comments his observations of March 11, 1848:

"Two stars considerably apart in the central region: dark penumbra around each spiral arrangements." (On many occasions only one star seen and spiral form doubtful.)
Looking through Lord Rosse's 6-foot telescope, Thomas Romney Robinson, a priest and friend of the Earl, remarked in 1848: "A most intricate group of spiral arcs disposed around two starry centers, looking like the visage of a monkey."

The second star was not seen in the location marked in this drawing by later observers.

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    Last Modification: 25 Jul 2000