NGC 1499: California Nebula mosaic

[pietervdv]

Hello everyone,

During 2 clear nights the last week of November I shot some data on the California Nebula.

It came out as a 2 pane mosaic, each panel is exposed for 5 hours with 15 min sub exposures.

The equipment was left running unattended with a scripted autofocus run every 0.5°C temp drop.

Processing very minimal (20 min max): bad pixel map and stretched + contrast boost in PS, no noise reduction.

Equipment details:

Scope: Custom 10" f/3.8 Newtonian Astrograph

Focuser: Custom 3" focuser with Rigel absolute motorfocus + beltdrive

Mount: Mesu200 with SiTech controller

Camera: sbig st8300 cooled to -30°C

Filter: Astrodon h-alpha 5nm

Guiding: Lodestar using a custom OAG

Total exposure: 10 hours (20 x 15 min each panel)

Med size version:

http://www.astronomie.be/pieter.vandevelde/deepsky/ngc1499_2014_med.jpg

Hi res version:

http://www.astronomie.be/pieter.vandevelde/deepsky/ngc1499_2014.jpg

Thanks for checking it out! All comments welcome.

Clear skies,

Pieter

[Knight of Clear Skies]

Very good, lots of detail there I haven't seen before.

The circular feature at bottom right is intriguing, some people think it might be an old planetary nebula but no-one seems to be sure.

[pietervdv]

Thanks, could you point out where this circulair feature is? I am curious to find out more. Pieyet

[kirkster501]

...at the bottom right of your picture about a fifth of the way in (vertical and horizontal).  Looks like an artefact of some sort?

[pietervdv]

Ok found it, looks very big too. If I didn't know any better, it looks just like an internal reflection from a bright star just outside of the frame.

Thanks for pointing it out.

Pieter

[ollypenrice]

Dead right KoCS, lots of details new to me, particularly the eddies and swirls in the gas. Splendid imagae, Pieter.

It took me a while to spot the controvertial feature in the lower right and when I saw it I thought it was probably an artefact. It isn't. I have it in my image (a collaboration with Takman) as well. I've roatated our image to match Pieter's and there it is, clear as day. Fascinating! It must be absolutely huge and really deserves putting in the centre of a wide field for a better view.

Very exciting!

http://ollypenrice.smugmug.com/Other/Takahashi-EM200TEC140/i-m28sMFn/0/X3/California%20poss%20PN%20lower%20right-X3.jpg

Olly

[Epicycle]

I have just checked my california mosaic from last year and indeed the circular feature is there and very obvious once you know it exists!

Very amusing.

Lovely image btw,

E.

[Phillyo]

Very nice image! I too have seen this circular little "feature" on my own version of the California Nebula. Interesting little chap hey?

Phil

[laser_jock99]

Most detail I've seen in this object for a long time.

The circular feature is a new thing to me also. Definitely worthy of further work.

[Knight of Clear Skies]

Yes, it's very intriguing. I first read about the circular feature when another poster on here commented on a California image. It's been known about for a few years, this is the earliest reference I know about.

I wonder what could be done to investigate it. If it is a planetary then there should be a very hot white dwarf right in the middle. 

[pietervdv]

Last Friday I shot another 5 hour panel; so that concludes this project.

Total exposure is 15 hours in 3 panels with above equipment.

smal size:

http://www.astronomie.be/pieter.vandevelde/deepsky/mosaic%20v3_med.jpg

med size:

http://www.astronomie.be/pieter.vandevelde/deepsky/mosaic%20v3_med.jpg

Full size: 20 megapixel

http://www.astronomie.be/pieter.vandevelde/deepsky/mosaic%20v3.jpg

Thanks for checking & clear skies,

Pieter

[PatrickGilliland]

Well done Pieter - I had considered this target rather dull previously but this is far from that, great job with superb details.

Paddy