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California Nebula (NGC 1499)
emission nebula in Perseus
The California Nebula is a long, faint emission nebula in Perseus, named for its shape. It is lit by a nearby bright star and glows almost entirely in hydrogen alpha, so it is almost invisible to a camera without a filter. It is about 2.5 degrees long.
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// Key facts
- Catalog
- NGC 1499
- Type
- emission nebula
- Constellation
- Perseus
- Size
- 2.7° across
- Brightness
- Magnitude 6
- Distance
- about 1,000 light-years
- Peak month (any location)
- Nov
- Typical prime months
- Sep to Feb
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Filter
- Narrowband: Ha / OIII / SII, or a dual-band / UHC filter
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How to image California Nebula
- An Ha or dual-band filter is essential. In unfiltered broadband it barely shows.
- Use a wide field of 200 to 300 mm on APS-C.
- High in the northern sky on autumn and winter evenings.
Framing: what focal length?
The focal length at which NGC 1499 spans about 60% of the long side of the sensor, leaving room around it. Treat it as a starting point; the right framing is a matter of taste.
| Sensor | Focal length |
|---|---|
| 1-inch sensor (13.2 mm) | about 170 mm |
| APS-C (23.5 mm) | about 300 mm |
| Full frame (36 mm) | about 460 mm |
How high does it climb from your latitude?
The highest point NGC 1499 reaches in the sky. Above about 60° is excellent, 30° to 60° is workable, and under 30° you are looking through a lot of air.
| Latitude | Highest point | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 55°N (Scotland, Alaska) | 71° | High in the sky |
| 45°N (Minneapolis, Milan) | 81° | High in the sky |
| 35°N (Los Angeles, Tokyo) | 89° | High in the sky |
| 25°N (Miami, Cairo) | 79° | High in the sky |
| 35°S (Sydney, Santiago) | 19° | Stays low |
Also worth imaging
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