Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Perseus (Per)  ·  Contains:  46 ksi Per  ·  California Nebula  ·  IC 2003  ·  IC 2005  ·  IC 2027  ·  Menkib  ·  NGC 1499  ·  PK161-14.1  ·  Perseus  ·  Sh2-220  ·  The star ξPer
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California Nebula, Andrei Gusan
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California Nebula

Getting plate-solving status, please wait...
California Nebula, Andrei Gusan
Powered byPixInsight

California Nebula

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Description

By chance the outline of this molecular space cloud echoes the outline of the state of California, USA. Relatively close, in astronomical terms, it is only 1,000 light-years from our solar system and has a diameter of 100 light-years. The star most likely providing the energetic starlight that ionizes much of the nebular gas is the bright, hot, bluish Xi Persei (12,000 brighter than our sun!) just to the centre-right of the nebula. Contrary to intuition, blue stars are giant, very hot and their lifespan is very short.

Two panels with RedCat51 and ASI1600 from late autumn 2020.

Not enough signal on RGB (only 20 subs per channel) but tried to compensate with Ha.

Need more SNR, maybe this season.

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California Nebula, Andrei Gusan