The California Nebula (NGC 1499) is an emission nebula located in the constellation Perseus, about 1,000 light-years away from Earth. It spans roughly 100 light-years in length and is named for its resemblance to the shape of the U.S. state of California. The nebula glows primarily due to the ionization of hydrogen gas, which gives it a reddish hue, and is illuminated by the nearby bright star Menkib (Xi Persei). Like the North America Nebula, it is a popular target for wide-field astrophotography and is visible in long-exposure images.