Sometimes, when I capture deep-sky objects, I can’t help but imagine what they might look like to someone who has never seen them before. Recently, I photographed two fascinating targets: M108 and M97. To me, they looked more like an alien and a saucer than their traditional names—the Surfboard Galaxy and the Owl Nebula. So, I gave them a new nickname: the Alien and the Saucer.
But as much as I enjoy inventing my own creative names, the reality is that no one would know what I was talking about if I shared those names with the astronomy community. That’s because we need shared language to make sense of things—like calling the sky ‘blue’ or agreeing that water is ‘wet.’
A Brief History of the Messier Catalog
Charles Messier was an 18th-century astronomer who set out to catalog the fuzzy, comet-like objects cluttering his view of the night sky. Using a modest refracting telescope with a four-inch aperture, Messier observed these objects from his observatory in Paris. Frustrated by these ‘nuisances,’ he meticulously recorded their positions and characteristics, often sketching what he saw. His goal was to help other comet hunters avoid confusing these objects with actual comets. His drawings and notes were eventually compiled into what we now call the Messier Catalog, first published in 1771 and expanded in subsequent years. Little did he know that his catalog would become one of the most treasured guides for deep-sky observers. M108 and M97 are part of this famous list. (Source: O’Meara, Stephen James. “The Messier Objects: A Visual Reference to the Universe.” Cambridge University Press, 1998.)
🌀 Messier 108 – The Surfboard Galaxy
Distance and Size: M108 is located approximately 46 million light-years away in the constellation Ursa Major. It spans about 110,000 light-years across, making it comparable in size to our Milky Way galaxy. Cosgrove’s Cosmos+1Astrophotography and Astronomy+1
Orientation: The galaxy is inclined at an angle of 75° to our line of sight, giving it an almost edge-on appearance from Earth. Cosgrove’s Cosmos+2Messier Objects+2Wikipedia+2
Supermassive Black Hole: At its center lies a supermassive black hole estimated to be 24 million times the mass of our Sun. This is about eight times more massive than the black hole at the center of the Milky Way. Wikipedia+2Cosgrove’s Cosmos+2Space+2
Star Formation and Supershells: M108 exhibits regions of active star formation and contains expanding shells of gas, known as H I supershells. These structures may result from supernova explosions or interactions with intergalactic material. Wikipedia
X-ray Sources: Observations with the Chandra X-ray Observatory have identified 83 X-ray sources within M108, including a source at the nucleus consistent with an intermediate-mass black hole accreting matter. Wikipedia
🦉 Messier 97 – The Owl Nebula
Appearance and Observation: The “owl-like” appearance arises from two dark patches within the nebula, resembling eyes. These features were first sketched by William Parsons, 3rd Earl of Rosse, in 1848. The nebula can be observed with moderate-sized telescopes under good conditions, and the central star is visible in 10-inch or larger telescopes. Astronomy Magazine+3Messier Objects+3Constellation Guide+3
Distance and Structure: M97, also known as the Owl Nebula, is a planetary nebula approximately 2,030 light-years away in Ursa Major. It has a nearly circular appearance with a faint internal structure and spans about 1.82 light-years in diameter. Constellation Guide+3Wikipedia+3Log in or sign up to view+3
Age and Composition: The nebula is estimated to be around 8,000 years old. It consists of three concentric shells, with the outermost shell being about 20–30% larger than the inner shell. The nebula contains approximately 0.13 solar masses of material, including hydrogen, helium, nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur. Wikipedia
Central Star: At the center of M97 is a white dwarf star with a surface temperature of about 123,000 K. This star has a mass between 55–60% that of the Sun and is in the final stages of stellar evolution. Wikipedia
While the official names are descriptive, they don’t fully capture the playful way these objects appear in my latest image. To me, they look like an alien next to a flying saucer.
Why Names Matter
We can call things whatever we like, but the names won’t mean much if no one else understands them. The Messier catalog exists because standardization helps astronomers communicate clearly. It’s like how scientists agree on the color of the sky or the basic properties of water—shared language is crucial for understanding.
This need for standardized communication is especially important in science. Just think about the current wave of anti-science movements—the flat-Earthers, for example—who deny proven concepts despite overwhelming evidence. While people are free to have their own opinions, science thrives on observations, evidence, and repeatable results. Without this foundation, I wouldn’t be able to post this blog on the internet—an invention grounded in scientific understanding and shared standards.
So, while the ‘Alien and the Saucer’ is a fun name for my new image, M108 and M97 remain their real identifiers. It’s a reminder that while imagination and creativity are important, so is agreeing on the basics that make communication possible.
Clear skies!
-Sky Dad
