California Nebula
Emission nebula

California Nebula

NGC 1499 · Perseus
These photons are ~1,000 years old
LP
Date
2025-09-22
Location
36.3859° N, 28.0412° E
Integration
17m (52 × 20s)
Software
ZWO Seestar app
Notes
—
Plate solve
Centre RA
4h 00m 03.4s
Centre Dec
+36° 22′ 39″
Field
47.2′ × 83.5′
Pixel scale
2.38″/px
Orientation
119.4° E of N
TelescopeZWO Seestar S50
CameraZWO Seestar S50 Camera
RigFamily Holiday Rig
Captured from · Ελλάς
36.3859° N, 28.0412° E · open map ↗

Where to find it

Interactive sky chart centred on 4 00 03.4 +36 22 39, with constellation stick figures overlaid. Locate shows the whole constellation with the target ringed; Field zooms to the close-up. Drag to pan, scroll to zoom, click any star to identify it. Imagery: DSS colour survey via CDS Aladin Lite. Constellation figures © Dominic Ford (GPLv3).

A very large but low-surface-brightness emission nebula illuminated by the hot O7 star Xi Persei. The shape maps the state of California. Requires an Hα filter for best results as it is faint in broadband; nearly 2.5° long and challenging to frame without a wide-field mosaic.

Frequently asked questions

What kind of object is NGC 1499?
NGC 1499 is an emission nebula.
Which constellation is NGC 1499 in?
NGC 1499 lies in the constellation Perseus.
How far away is NGC 1499?
The light in this image left NGC 1499 roughly ~1,000 years ago, so that is how far back in time you are seeing it.
What are the coordinates of NGC 1499?
NGC 1499 sits at right ascension 04h 00m 03s and declination +36° 22′ 39″ (J2000).
When is the best time to photograph NGC 1499?
NGC 1499 rides highest in the evening sky around November, reaching about 73° above the horizon from around 54°N.
What equipment was used to photograph NGC 1499?
This image of NGC 1499 was captured with ZWO Seestar S50 and ZWO Seestar S50 Camera.
How much exposure time went into this image?
This image of NGC 1499 represents 17m (52 × 20s) of total integration time.