Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Perseus (Per)  ·  Contains:  46 Per)  ·  46 ksi Per  ·  California Nebula  ·  HD24664  ·  HD24747  ·  HD25152  ·  HD25308  ·  HD25454  ·  HD25538  ·  HD279143  ·  HD279146  ·  HD279147  ·  HD279150  ·  HD279151  ·  HD279153  ·  HD279154  ·  HD279156  ·  HD279158  ·  HD279159  ·  HD279160  ·  HD279161  ·  HD279165  ·  HD279214  ·  HD279215  ·  HD279216  ·  HD279217  ·  HD279218  ·  HD279219  ·  HD279221  ·  HD279222  ·  And 87 more.
California Nebula (NGC 1499) in HOO Blend Mode 1, Sean Boon
Powered byPixInsight

California Nebula (NGC 1499) in HOO Blend Mode 1

California Nebula (NGC 1499) in HOO Blend Mode 1, Sean Boon
Powered byPixInsight

California Nebula (NGC 1499) in HOO Blend Mode 1

Equipment

Loading...

Acquisition details

Loading...

Description

The California Nebula (NGC 1499), nestled in the constellation Perseus about 1,000 light-years away from Earth, is an intriguing celestial object that captures the imagination of stargazers. Named for its resemblance to the outline of the state of California in long-exposure photographs, the nebula spans approximately 2.5 degrees in the sky, which is about the size of four full moons. Discovered by astronomer Edward Emerson Barnard in 1884 at the Lick Observatory in California, the nebula is primarily composed of hydrogen gas (70-80%) and helium (20-30%), with trace elements like oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur. Its distinctive pinkish-red hue is the result of the ionization of hydrogen gas by the nearby star Xi Persei, also known as Menkib, which has a scorching surface temperature of 37,000 Kelvin. Despite its captivating beauty, the nebula's low surface brightness makes it challenging to observe without specialized equipment like H-alpha or H-beta filters. The California Nebula remains a stunning testament to the wonders of our universe.

Comments

Revisions

  • California Nebula (NGC 1499) in HOO Blend Mode 1, Sean Boon
    Original
  • Final
    California Nebula (NGC 1499) in HOO Blend Mode 1, Sean Boon
    B

Sky plot

Sky plot

Histogram

California Nebula (NGC 1499) in HOO Blend Mode 1, Sean Boon