Astronomy Picture of the Day -- The California Nebula

NASA ^ | January 12, 2016 | (see photo credit)

[SunkenCiv]

Explanation: What's California doing in space? Drifting through the Orion Arm of the spiral Milky Way Galaxy, this cosmic cloud by chance echoes the outline of California on the west coast of the United States. Our own Sun also lies within the Milky Way's Orion Arm, only about 1,500 light-years from the California Nebula. Also known as NGC 1499, the classic emission nebula is around 100 light-years long. On the featured image, the most prominent glow of the California Nebula is the red light characteristic of hydrogen atoms recombining with long lost electrons, stripped away (ionized) by energetic starlight. The star most likely providing the energetic starlight that ionizes much of the nebular gas is the bright, hot, bluish Xi Persei just to the right of the nebula. A regular target for astrophotographers, the California Nebula can be spotted with a wide-field telescope under a dark sky toward the constellation of Perseus, not far from the Pleiades.

[SunkenCiv]

[Credit and Copyright: Farmakopoulos Antonis]

[SunkenCiv]

The Big One

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[r_barton]

The California Nebula...

Yea, but unfortunately it’s a blue state, not a red one like the nebula. ;-)

[Impy]

Red (commie) is the proper color for Cali.

That nebula may be morel livable than Cali in 10 years.

[BlueDragon]

Seems that the wrath of the Gods got a punch on the nose and it started to flow; I think I might be sinking.

[fhayek]

You see California, I see Fred Flintstone. It's a little like cosmic Highlights.

[TigersEye]

A 100 light year tall break? Surf’s up!

[SunkenCiv]

;’) As an album, that was their best, but of course, everyone sez that — Physical Graffiti is their quintessential album, it’s just a little too much due to four LP sides. :’o

[SunkenCiv]

;’) Yabba, Dabba, Dooooooo!

[SunkenCiv]

Gotta hang a lot more than ten for that kind of run...

[SunkenCiv]

“...made the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs...”

[Catmom]

I think I see a black hole where San Francisco is.

[BlueDragon]

I had to divert the conversation, and post a link to that one track...

You knew I would, right?

;') As an album, that was their best, but of course, everyone sez that -

At the time, it was in something of a class by itself, though I can live without about half of the tracks (having heard them all waa-y too many times); Misty Mountain Hop, Black Dog; and Rock & Roll. To some people that would be sacrilegious, I know...

Personally, I think my favorite from that band is

this one

from Houses of the Holy.

[sauropod]

Bfl

[Ken H]

It’s not far enough out in space to merit the name.

[r_barton]

After all, in California we did elect Governor MoonBeam...4 TIMES!

[fieldmarshaldj]

Don’t use the media newspeak colors. Red is Communist Democrat.

[SunkenCiv]

My favorite Zep track is the Helmet cover of "Custard Pie" on the Encomium tribute album, although sometimes it's Memphis Minnie's recording of "When the Levee Breaks".

[SunkenCiv]

LOL!

[Fledermaus]

It’s full of illegal aliens.