California Nebula

California Nebula
Observation data: J2000.0 epoch
Type	Emission
Right ascension	04h 03m 18.00s
Declination	+36° 25′ 18.0"
Distance	1,000 ly
Apparent magnitude (V)	6.0
Apparent dimensions (V)	2.5° long
Constellation	Perseus
Physical characteristics
Radius	-
Absolute magnitude (V)	-
Notable features	-
Other designations	NGC 1499, Sharpless 220
See also: Diffuse nebula, Lists of nebulae
v · d · e

The California Nebula (NGC 1499) is an emission nebula located in the constellation Perseus. It is so named because it appears to resemble the outline of the US State of California on long exposure photographs. It is almost 2.5° long on the sky and, because of its very low surface brightness, it is extremely difficult to observe visually. It can be observed with a H-Beta filter (isolates the H-Beta line at 486 nm) in a rich-field telescope under dark skies. It lies at a distance of about 1,000 light years from Earth.

The California Nebula was discovered by E. E. Barnard in 1884.

• 

  Image of the California Nebula with amateur telescope.

• 

  Infrared image of the nebula from WISE.

External links

• NGC 1499 at SEDS
• Menkhib and the California Nebula by the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE)