2 x 1 mosaic LRGB 24.3 hr total.
Stacked, processed, and combined in PixInsight. North is down.
The emission nebula NGC 1499 in the constellation Perseus is known as the California Nebula because its shape resembles the state. It is about 100 light years long.
The hot blue star to the upper left is Xi Persei, thought to be the source of radiation that energizes the hydrogen atoms in this cloud of gas and causes them to radiate red light.
Because of its low surface brightness, the California nebula is hard to see in a telescope; but it makes a wonderful photographic target.
Panel 1 - 13.7 hr
- Lum 41 x 8 min = 5.5 hr
- Red 21 x 8 min = 2.8 hr
- Green 20 x 8 min = 2.7 hr
- Blue 20 x 8 min = 2.7 hr
Panel 2 - 10.6 hr
- Lum 31 x 8 min = 4.1 hr
- Red 16 x 8 min = 2.1 hr
- Green 17 x 8 min = 2.3 hr
- Blue 16 x 8 min = 2.1 hr