Waid Observatory

Object: IC 2118 - The Witch Head Nebula
Date: Nov. 10-11-14, 2017    Location: Davis Mountains west of Fort Davis, TX
Telescope: Stellarvue SV102ED   -   Camera: ST-8300M   -  Mount: MI-250
Exposure: Lum. = 240 min.  -  Red = 180 min.  -  Green = 180 min.  -  Blue = 260 min.
Click on the image below to view at higher resolution.

 

IC 2118

 

IC 2118 - The Witch Head Nebula 1

IC 2118 is commonly referred to as the Witch Head Nebula.  It is classified as a reflection nebula and is thought to be the remnant of an ancient supernova.  The nebula is illuminate by the star Rigel in the constellation Orion the Hunter.  The nebula actually lies in the Eridanus constellation at an approximate distance of 900 to 1000 light-years from the Earth.  The dust particles in the nebula reflect blue light more efficiently than other visible wavelengths giving the Witch Head its blue color.  The field of view of the image above does not encompass the entire nebula but does, to my eye, depict a face that very much resembles the "Wicked Witch" in the Wizard of Oz movie.

1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IC_2118

 
Copyright Donald P. Waid