NGC 1499

NGC 1499 = California Nebula = LBN 756 = Sh 2-220
04 03 14 +36 22.1
Size 145x40

17.5" (1/16/02): Despite its reputation as a challenging target, this was an 
easy, fascinating object at 64x with a H-beta filter. The California Nebula is 
HUGE and extended a full two eyepiece fields even using a 31 Nagler for a total 
length of over 2.5 degrees and with a varying width of 15'-30', extended WNW-
ESE.  The E-W border is well-defined with a filter, particularly in the general 
vicinity of Xi Persei (middle of three naked-eye stars in the leg of Perseus 
collinear with the Pleiades) on the southern border and a long straight stretch 
on the northern edge.  Along the northern edge, there is some filamentary, wispy 
structure similar to the view of the Veil nebula in a small scope!

The nebulosity is weaker and more disorganized, though, close to the preceding 
and following ends. The nebula tapers towards the eastern end where there are 
some additional brighter streaks and dark intrusions near a group of stars.  
Portions of the central region are clearly fainter with no evident structure.  
At the west end the structure is also chaotic with an irregular mix of weak 
nebulosity and darker voids.  There is much to view here even at 64x, and I 
spent 30 minutes scanning the entire length for structure.

17.5" (10/28/89): the California Nebula requires very low power and visibility 
is best using an H-beta filter.  At 82x appears very large, faint, very 
elongated, irregular low surface brightness with darker lanes and some wispy 
structure along the edges.  The most well-defined section of the border is near 
a mag 8.5 star bordering the southern edge.  Located roughly 30' N of mag 4.0 Xi 
Persei.

16x80: very large and faint, very elongated WNW-ESE, sharper and brighter on WNW 
edge, very low surface brightness.  Improved contrast with an H-beta filter.

- by Steve Gottlieb

NGC 1499 is the brightest part of the very extensive California Nebula, so 
called since its outline more or less resembles the outline of the state.
Barnard's position -- apparently sent to Dreyer in a letter, since it is not 
in any of his published notes -- is just off the nebula to its east.  The 
position we've adopted is more or less the center of the brightest portion of
the nebulosity on its north-eastern edge. - Dr. Harold G. Corwin, Jr.

As with all corrections to the NGC and IC Catalogues, there is a certain margin
for error, even though the evidence supporting the correction may be strong and
compelling. It is with this in mind that we ask the user to use this information
as 'Most Probable', but never to assume the correction is 'Absolute'.  All
published corrections are based on an exhaustive 'paper chase' of the historical
record back to the original discoverer's published notes/papers, and are
therefore based upon the historical accuracy (or inaccuracy) of those particular
notes/papers. In short, Caveat Emptor! - Robert E. Erdmann, Jr.