Combination of 2, 3 minute exposures, SBIG ST-8 CCD.
8" f/6.3 schmidt-cassegrain at prime focus.
M97 is a large and relatively bright planetary nebula in Ursa Major, about 3 degrees south-east of Merak, the star which marks the south-western star in the bowl of the Big Dipper. The nebula can be difficult to observe under moderate light pollution because it has a rather low surface brightness. The two darker portions which give rise to the common name are visible in a 10" telescope under dark skies.
Just below the nebula, partly obscured by a star, is the 16th magnitude galaxy, PGC 344279. About one degree to the north and slightly west, is the bright galaxy M 108.