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Created page with "{{Night Sky | image = | designation =NGC 1499 | rightascension =04<sup>h</sup> 03<sup>m</sup> 18<sup>s</sup><ref name=simbad>[http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/sim..."
{{Night Sky
| image =
| designation =[[NGC]] 1499
| rightascension =04<sup>h</sup> 03<sup>m</sup> 18<sup>s</sup><ref name=simbad>[http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-id?Ident=NGC+1499&NbIdent=1&Radius=2&Radius.unit=arcmin&submit=submit+id NGC 1499] from the [http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad SIMBAD Astronomical Database]</ref>
| declination =+36° 25′ 18″<ref name=simbad/>
| distance =1,467±75 ly<ref name=arxiv>Lada, C., Lombardi, M. and Alves, J. (2009). THE CALIFORNIA MOLECULAR CLOUD. ''The Astrophysical Journal'', 703(1), pp.52-59. [https://arxiv.org/abs/0908.0646 arXiv:0908.0646]</ref>
| constellation =Perseus
| type =Diffuse nebula
| dimensions =10° × 1.5°<ref name=arxiv/>
| magnitude =
| redshift =
| radvelocity =
| propmotion =
| parallax =
}}
The '''California nebula''' (NGC 1499) is a [[diffuse nebula]] in the [[constellation]] of [[Perseus]] and not far from the [[Pleiades]].<ref name=apod>[https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap160112.html The California Nebula] from apod.nasa.gov</ref> Named for its resemblance to the [[state]] of [[California]], the nebula is found the Orion Arm of the [[Milky Way]], the same arm as [[Earth]] and the [[Sun]] are situated in. The nebula is illuminated by the [[radiation]] generated by the [[star]] Xi Persei (ξ Persei).<ref name=atlas>[http://www.atlasoftheuniverse.com/nebulae/ngc1499.html NGC1499 - The California Nebula] from atlasoftheuniverse.com</ref> The nebula is a fairly popular target for astrophotography.
==Properties and Structure==
The California nebula is located approximately 1,500 [[light year]]s from [[Earth]] and can be observed to have an apparent length of around 10° and width of 1.5°.<ref name=arxiv/> This gives it a physical size of around 260 by 39 light years. The nebula is thought to have a [[mass (science)|mass]] of around 1.12×10<sup>5</sup> [[solar mass]]es, making it the largest giant molecular cloud within 500 [[parsec]]s (1,630 light years) of the [[Sun]].<ref name=arxiv/> This means it is similar is size and mass to the famous [[Orion nebula]]. There are known to be many [[dark nebulae]] in this are. These consist of dark [[gas]] and dust that obscure background light and so it is likely that the California nebula is simply the brightest are of a large nebula that is visible, with the rest being obscured by intervening gas and dust.<ref name=atlas/>
The nebula's red glowing appearance is due to the star Xi Persei (ξ Persei). As an O [[Star#Spectral Type|type]] star, it emits large quantities of radiation in the [[ultraviolet]] portion of the [[electromagnetic spectrum]]. This [[ionization|ionizes]] [[hydrogen]] [[gas]] present within the nebula creating free [[proton]]s and [[electron]]s. When a proton and an electron recombine to form a hydrogen [[atom]], they emit a characteristic red light that can be seen from images of the nebula.
The northern and southern ends of the nebula split into [[parallel]] filaments.<ref name=arxiv/> The northern end breaks up into three separate filaments while the southern end splits into two.
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Nebulae}}
[[Category:Astronomy]]
[[Category:Nebulae]]
| image =
| designation =[[NGC]] 1499
| rightascension =04<sup>h</sup> 03<sup>m</sup> 18<sup>s</sup><ref name=simbad>[http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-id?Ident=NGC+1499&NbIdent=1&Radius=2&Radius.unit=arcmin&submit=submit+id NGC 1499] from the [http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad SIMBAD Astronomical Database]</ref>
| declination =+36° 25′ 18″<ref name=simbad/>
| distance =1,467±75 ly<ref name=arxiv>Lada, C., Lombardi, M. and Alves, J. (2009). THE CALIFORNIA MOLECULAR CLOUD. ''The Astrophysical Journal'', 703(1), pp.52-59. [https://arxiv.org/abs/0908.0646 arXiv:0908.0646]</ref>
| constellation =Perseus
| type =Diffuse nebula
| dimensions =10° × 1.5°<ref name=arxiv/>
| magnitude =
| redshift =
| radvelocity =
| propmotion =
| parallax =
}}
The '''California nebula''' (NGC 1499) is a [[diffuse nebula]] in the [[constellation]] of [[Perseus]] and not far from the [[Pleiades]].<ref name=apod>[https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap160112.html The California Nebula] from apod.nasa.gov</ref> Named for its resemblance to the [[state]] of [[California]], the nebula is found the Orion Arm of the [[Milky Way]], the same arm as [[Earth]] and the [[Sun]] are situated in. The nebula is illuminated by the [[radiation]] generated by the [[star]] Xi Persei (ξ Persei).<ref name=atlas>[http://www.atlasoftheuniverse.com/nebulae/ngc1499.html NGC1499 - The California Nebula] from atlasoftheuniverse.com</ref> The nebula is a fairly popular target for astrophotography.
==Properties and Structure==
The California nebula is located approximately 1,500 [[light year]]s from [[Earth]] and can be observed to have an apparent length of around 10° and width of 1.5°.<ref name=arxiv/> This gives it a physical size of around 260 by 39 light years. The nebula is thought to have a [[mass (science)|mass]] of around 1.12×10<sup>5</sup> [[solar mass]]es, making it the largest giant molecular cloud within 500 [[parsec]]s (1,630 light years) of the [[Sun]].<ref name=arxiv/> This means it is similar is size and mass to the famous [[Orion nebula]]. There are known to be many [[dark nebulae]] in this are. These consist of dark [[gas]] and dust that obscure background light and so it is likely that the California nebula is simply the brightest are of a large nebula that is visible, with the rest being obscured by intervening gas and dust.<ref name=atlas/>
The nebula's red glowing appearance is due to the star Xi Persei (ξ Persei). As an O [[Star#Spectral Type|type]] star, it emits large quantities of radiation in the [[ultraviolet]] portion of the [[electromagnetic spectrum]]. This [[ionization|ionizes]] [[hydrogen]] [[gas]] present within the nebula creating free [[proton]]s and [[electron]]s. When a proton and an electron recombine to form a hydrogen [[atom]], they emit a characteristic red light that can be seen from images of the nebula.
The northern and southern ends of the nebula split into [[parallel]] filaments.<ref name=arxiv/> The northern end breaks up into three separate filaments while the southern end splits into two.
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Nebulae}}
[[Category:Astronomy]]
[[Category:Nebulae]]