The California Nebula (NGC 1499), a striking emission nebula in the constellation Perseus, lies about 1,000 light years away and spans some 100 light years. It glows mainly through Hα emission (hydrogen) and is ionised by the energetic radiation of the star Xi Persei, a hot, bluish-white O7 star.
This RGBSHO image combines natural colour (RGB) with narrowband filters for sulphur (SII), hydrogen (Hα) and oxygen (OIII), revealing the nebula’s complex structures and temperature zones. The dominant Hα radiation gives it a reddish hue, while oxygen and sulphur produce bluish and yellowish tones in the outer layers.
Its shape, reminiscent of California, is created by a complex interplay of shockwaves and stellar winds within the interstellar medium.
I already tried to photograph it back in 2022 — see here.
| IMAGE DATA | |
|---|---|
| Object | NGC1499 Kaliforniernnebel |
| Distance | approx. 1000 light years |
| Date | 26.12.2024 |
| Exposure | Each 20x 180sec. RGB, 23x 300sec. SII, each 29x 300sec. HA & OIII - Total 9,75 |
| Mount | Skywatcher EQ6-R Pro |
| Telescope | William Optics Redcat 51 |
| Camera | ZWO ASI 2600mm with ZWO RGB, Ha, OIII & SII-Filtern |
| Guiding | Zwo Asi OAG with ZWO Asi 290mm Mini & Asiair |
| Software | AsiAir, Astropixel Processor, Photoshop CC, Topaz Deniose AI, Star X Terminator, Nik Collection 7 |