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Date: Dec. 19-20-21-22, 2025 Location: Davis Mountains west of Fort Davis, TX Telescope: Telescope: Officina Stellare f/3 RH200-AT - Camera: QSI-640 - Mount: Paramount MX Exposure: 4 Panel Mosaic - LRGB 9 by 300 sec. each Filter, each Panel Click on the image below to view at higher resolution. |
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IC 2118 is commonly referred to as the Witch Head Nebula. It is classified as a reflection nebula[2] and is thought, by some astronomers, to be the remnant of an ancient supernova[3]. The nebula is illuminate by the star Rigel[1,2] in the constellation Orion the Hunter. The nebula actually lies in the adjoining Eridanus constellation[3] at an approximate distance of 900 light-years from the Earth[2,3]. The dust particles in the nebula reflect blue light more efficiently than other visible wavelengths giving the Witch Head its blue color[2] The illuminating star Rigel is located to the right of the Witch Head[1], however, it is out of the field of view of the image above. The nebula was not given its nick name until 1929 when the astronomer Frank Ross suggested it resembled the profile of a witch[2]. To my eye, it does depict a face that very much resembles the Wicked Witch in The Wizard of Oz movie.
Member of the Dark Sky Observatory Collaborative
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