Object Information                                            Imaging Details

Located in Perseus, about 1 degree NE of 4th magnitude Menkib, the California Nebula (NGC1499) gets its name from its uncanny resemblance to the Western US state (the State of my birth). The diffuse nebula was first observed by E. E. Barnard in 1884, and is listed at magnitude 5. However, its large size yields a very low surface brightness. It is nearly impossible to observe visually without a nebular filter. The nebula glows because of radiation emitted by Xi Persei, the bright (O-class) star on the right-hand side of the image.

NGC 1499 is quite dim and is very difficult to view in a modest-sized telescope. Some of the brighter portions are visible in larger scopes, but photography is needed to resolve the object well.

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Telescope:

Orion ED80 (color) and Celestron NS11 (Ha)