Hold the cosmos in your hands.
Before the days of high-speed internet, the best way to see the latest robotic exploration images from the Viking and Voyager missions was to write to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and ask for a press packet. We've recreated that thrilling, tactile experience with our exclusive line of high-quality physical photo prints.
This 8.5" x 11" print features NGC 1499 - The California Nebula. Located roughly 1,000 light-years away in the constellation Perseus, this sprawling emission nebula gets its famous nickname because its long, curving shape perfectly mirrors the outline of the state of California! It is absolutely massive, stretching across an area of the night sky equivalent to five full moons. The brilliant red glow comes from vast clouds of hydrogen gas being superheated and ionized by a single, incredibly powerful star nearby called Menkib. This runaway star is one of the hottest visible stars in the night sky, radiating such intense ultraviolet energy that it lights up this giant cosmic coastline for all of us to see! Produced on premium one-sided gloss paper, this piece delivers stunning clarity and vibrant colors on the front.
On the reverse side, you'll find an engaging scientific description of this cosmic coastline, along with the exact Bracken Observatory equipment and exposure specs used to capture the shot—including 13 hours and 6 minutes of total exposure time using our RASA 11" telescope—just like the classic JPL media packets of the 1980s.
Whether you're an educator looking for engaging classroom materials, a parent sharing the wonders of the universe with your kids, or an astronomy enthusiast wanting a beautiful physical print to frame, this is the perfect way to experience the cosmos away from a screen.
Product Details:
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Dimensions: 8.5" x 11" (Standard Letter Size)
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Material: Premium one-sided gloss photo paper
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Features: High-resolution image on the front; science facts, shot specs, and an interactive QR code to the online showroom on the back
🔭 From the Desk of Paul Bracken:
"Operating out of Northern California, NGC 1499 is a target that feels close to home. The sheer scale of this nebula is mind-boggling—if it were bright enough to see clearly with the naked eye, it would dwarf the full moon! We poured over 13 hours of exposure time into the RASA 11 to capture the rich, ionized hydrogen gas that makes up this giant cosmic coastline. Holding this print lets you trace the familiar shape of our home state rendered in glowing interstellar gas."
