NGC1499 · California Nebula
| Chinese name | 加州星云 |
|---|---|
| Type | Emission nebula |
| Constellation | Per |
| RA | 04h03m |
| Dec | +36° |
| Apparent magnitude | 5ᵐ |
| Hemisphere | Northern |
| Best season | Winter |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Focal length | 广角/中焦 135–400mm |
About
The California Nebula lies about 1,000 light-years away in Perseus and is named for its elongated outline, which strikingly resembles the map of the U.S. state of California, stretching more than 2.5° (about five Moon-widths). It is a large ionized-hydrogen region glowing red, excited mainly by the nearby hot blue giant Menkib (xi Persei). Its surface brightness is very low and it is barely visible to the eye, but its huge apparent size makes it ideal for wide-field lenses or H-alpha and dual-narrowband filters. It can be framed as a standalone subject or composed with Menkib and the surrounding star field. It is a popular winter target for northern wide-field and narrowband imaging.