The large nebula in this image is designated NGC 1499 commonly called the California Nebula. It is located in the constellation Perseus and is approximately 1000 light years from our planet. It has a very low surface brightness which makes it difficult to see visually. It is in the direction of the outer Orion arm of the Milky Way. This space is filled with galactic gas from which many stars have formed. It is 2.5 degrees across and just north of the 4th magnitude star Xi Persei. This image was taken using a Takahashi FSQ106ED refractor telescope @F/5 and an FLI Microline 16803 CCD camera. It is a composite of images using Ha, Olll, and Sll narrowband filters and represents nearly 20 hours of exposure. Off Axis Guiding is provided by a Starlight Xpress Lodestar and an Astrodon MOAG. The mounting is an Astro-Physics Mach 1 GTO.