The California Nebula, or NGC1499, is so-named because of its distinctive shape. Like a billowing blanket let down across the sky, it flows due east of M45 and takes up 2.5 degrees of real estate in the sky. It is a very faint emission nebula that shows up strongly in the hydrogen alpha spectrum. This image combines over 60 5-minute exposures (over 5 hours) with a custom palette to give it the gold treatment.

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