California Nebula (NGC1499)

Click on the image to view full size! Image Acquisition Details: 64x 180s Ha + 46x 180s Sii + 19x 180s Oiii subs: total 6.4 hrs.

Equipment:

• William Optics Zenith Star Z73 APO telescope

• Ha, Sii and Oiii Narrowband filters

• ZWO ASI 294 MM Pro Camera @ -10 c

• Skywatcher EQ6-R mount

• Guided using ASIair Pro.

The California Nebula is an emission nebula that gets it name due to it resembling the shape of the state of California. It is located in the constellation Perseus and covers almost 2.5° in the night sky, that's 5 times the width of the full moon. The gas and dust in true colour emits a deep red colour and is excited by the nearby star Xi Persei. It lies approx 1,000 light years from Earth. The above image is done in Narrowband (Ionised Hydrogen , Sulphur and Oxygen) with Sulphur as Red, Hydrogen as Green and Oxygen as blue.