The California Nebula image - Request

[DobDobDob]

Anyone ever been able to image NGC 1499, The California Nebula? I wouldn't mind taking a look at it, I have read it is very difficult to image.

[astroron]

It is not difficult to image for talented astroimagers but can be very difficult visualy for us in the southern hemisphere,

[DobDobDob]

Soooooooooooooooo can you show me an image :P

[astroron]

Sorry I am not a astroimager, just google california nebula images and there are lots of amateur and professional images to look at.:eyepop:

[RB]

I'll move this into the Deep Space imaging section Ron, you may get someone there.

;)

[DobDobDob]

Thanks RB :thumbsup:

[Dr Nick]

I can't help you :(

[DobDobDob]

I did see one on a web page and it appeared as a red nebulosity that was almost side on and was quite large, I distinctly remember reading there was some degree of difficulty in either seeing it or imagining it. (More about this below)

Seeing this forum has members from all over the world and more than it's fair share of amazing astroimagers, I was hoping to see a 'genuine' members image.

This is a professional image: http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap060924.html (http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap060924.html) but I was after a members amateur attempt, something that one day I might hope to aspire to, using affordable equipment, not like the 48" Samuel Oschin Telescope (http://www.astro.caltech.edu/~wsk/sot.html) that the image was taken with.

This all stemmed from the other night when I was looking at Orion, more specifically M42 and trying to memorise the key star positions in the Trapezium, not that I have ever seen more than 4 stars there yet, however I know soon I will see 6, then 8 and so on.

So whilst doing some reading I got sidetracked with the California Nebula because I hadn't heard of it before and the fact that it was 'difficult' got me intrigued. As astroron was kind enough to point out to me, it is fairly easy to image but hard to see visually (thanks again astroron).

So I am now back to my original request, has anyone on the forum actually imaged this and can I take a peek, not to compare against a professional image, but to see what can be obtained from a purely amateur position.

Wow, long winded hey :whistle:

[Calin]

Tailwag,

You might try a search of IIS and see if anyone has posted on topics before. Turns out Glenc has done so last year.

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=13638&highlight=california+nebula

Cheers

[DobDobDob]

'Do a search'....hmmmmm now why didn't I think of that :rolleyes: it seems so obvious now :whistle:

Okay, yes you are right, Glenc has tangled with it and his image is exactly what I was looking for. I did the search and found a few other references, but by and large it is a nebulae that doesn't have nearly as much attention drawn to it as I would have thought.

Anyway, I have decided to place this object on my 'Hit list' of things to see and as my telescope collection grows along with my experience, I am certain that I will eventually observe it visually. Thanks Calin :thumbsup:

[RB]

Sorry guys but I've had to delete all the off topic posts since this thread isn't in the General Chat forum.