Pictures of the California Nebula

A favourite deep-sky target of American astrophotographers for obvious reasons, NGC 1499 the California Nebula is located about 1,000 lightyears away and stretches about 100 lightyears long.

The nebula's cosmic glow is most likely caused by Xi Persei, the scorching hot blue star that can be seen beside it.

The California Nebula is found in the Orion Arm of our Milky Way galaxy, and has been given its informal nickname because its shape resembles the outline of the US state of California.

Given California's contribution to spaceflight and astronomy over the years - from NASA's Ames Research Center and Jet Propulsion Laboratory to the rockets that launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base, and the many universities that offer renowned astronomy and astrophysics programmes - maybe it's only right that the the Golden State has a nebula named after it.

The California Nebula can be seen from Earth in the Perseus constellation, which just so happens to be the radiant of one of the most prolific annual meteor showers seen from Earth, the Perseid meteor shower.

Perhaps next time you're travelling to a dark-sky site for a spot of meteor-watching during Perseids season, you might bring along your telescope and see if you can observe this wonderful nebula too.

Below is a selection of some of the best images of the California Nebula captured by readers of BBC Sky at Night Magazine and astrophotographers over the years.

For more on astrophotography, browse our astrophotography guides or find out which are the best astrophotography cameras.

And if you would like to submit your astro images to the magazine, read our guide on how to send us your images or get in touch via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.