IC2118 – The Witch Head Nebula

IC2118 is a faint reflection nebula nicknamed the Witch Head because it resembles a fairytale "wicked witch" with sunken eyes, crooked nose, open mouth, and pointed chin.

The nebula is about 900 light years from Earth in the constellation Eridanus. It is known as a reflection nebula because its dust reflects the blue-white light from Rigel, the super-giant star about 40 light years distant that marks Orion's western foot.

The entire nebula spans about 70 light years, but this view shows only the 40% (28 light years) that resembles a witch.


Exposure
Two-panel mosaic:
 • Each panel 2½ hours (15 x 10 minutes) @ -20°C
 • Dusk flats
 • Camera position angle: 290°
 • Dusk flats
Processing  • Calibration, registeraton, and stretching with PixInsight
 • Final tweaking in Photoshop CS6
Date and Location  • November 25, 2019
 • Louisa County, Virginia, USA
Equipment
 • TMB-130SS APO refractor @ f/7 on an A-P 1200 mount
 • ZWO ASI-1600MC Pro color camera
 • Imaging and autoguiding with MaxIm DL 6.20
 • Automated image acquisition with ACP Observatory Control


The Orion Region

This region of the winter sky contains several beautiful deep-space objects in addition to the Witch Head Nebula pictured above.

Hover your mouse over a yellow arrow below to see the name of an object. Click on the arrow to see my image of it.



Updated May 23, 2023