The California Nebula in Perseus

The California Nebula in Perseus

By chance the outline of this molecular space cloud echoes the outline of the state of California in the United States. Our Sun has its home within the Milky Way's Orion Arm, only about 1,000 light-years from the California Nebula. Also known as NGC 1499, this classic emission nebula is around 100 light-years long. 

The most prominent glow of the California Nebula is the red light characteristic of hydrogen atoms recombining with long lost electrons, stripped away (ionized) by energetic starlight. The star most likely providing the energetic starlight that ionizes much of the nebular gas is the bright, hot, bluish Xi Persei just to the right of the nebula. A regular target for astrophotographers, the California Nebula can be spotted with a wide-field telescope under a dark sky toward the constellation of Perseus, not far from the Pleiades.

Image Credit & Copyright: Steven Powell

Steven's website: 

https://www.nexgenastrophotography.com

Release Date: Dec. 20, 2023

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