Description:
The Witch Head Nebula (IC 2118) is a reflection nebula located near the bright star Rigel in the constellation Orion. This nebula is known for its unique shape, which resembles the face of a witch wearing a pointed hat, although I’ve never understood the comparison. The nebula glows with a faint blue color due to the reflection of Rigel’s strong light off the cosmic dust within it. The blue color is caused by the scattering of short-wavelength light by the dust particles, the same phenomenon that makes the sky appear blue on Earth.
The Witch Head Nebula spans a vast area estimated to be about 50 light-years across, making it one of the largest known reflection nebulae. It is located approximately 900 light-years away from Earth, and its material is believed to consist of remnants of ancient stars and cosmic events that contributed to the formation of this unique nebula.
Acquisition details
Dates:
January 2nd 2025
January 3rd 2025
Frames:
Hydrogen Alpha 3nm: 66×300″(5h 30′)
Blue: 42×300″(3h 30′)
Green: 42×300″(3h 30′)
Red: 39×300″(3h 15′)
Luminance: 177×300″(14h 45′)
Integration:
30h 30′
Avg. Moon age:
3.13 days
Avg. Moon phase:
10.93%
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