NGC 1499, the California Nebula, in Perseus. This visually faint emission nebula (but easy to capture with a camera) shines above the hot blue star Zeta Persei, aka Menkib, and is surrounded by other faint threshold nebulosity. This is a stack of 8 x 8-minute exposures through the Borg 77mm f/4 astrograph and with the Canon EOS Ra red-sensitive mirrorless camera, at ISO 800. Stacked, aligned and processed in Adobe Camera Raw and Photoshop 2020. No nebula or light pollution reduction filter was employed in taking the images. I shot this from home November 25, 2019 on a very fine if frosty autumn night. The Dew Destroyer heater coil from David Lane wrapped around the front objective lens nicely kept off the frost.
The California Nebula, NGC 1499, by the blue star Zeta Persei, aka Menkib, which likely illuminates the nebula. The California Nebula was discovered in 1884 by E.E. Barnard. It lies about 1000 light years away. This is a stack of 9 x 6 minute exposures with the filter modified Canon 5D MkII at ISO 800 and through the TMB 92mm apo refractor at f/4.4 with the Borg 0.85x field flattener/reducer, shot from New Mexico Nov 16, 2014.
The California Nebula, NGC 1499, at top left, with the bright star Zeta Persei. at bottom A faint region of reflection nebulosity, IC 348, surrounds the star Atik, or Omicron Persei, at bottom right. The star just below NGC 1499 is Menkib, or Xi Persei. The field is similar to that of binoculars. This is a stack of 5 x 3-minute exposures with the filter-modified Canon 5D MkII at ISO 800 and 200mm Canon L-Series lens at f/2.8. An additional exposure taken through the Kenko Softon A filter is layered in to add the star glows to bring out their colours. Taken with the Fornax Lightrack tracker as part of testing. Taken from home on a rare fine and mild winter night, January 4, 2019.
