Witch Head Nebula IC 2118

The Witch Head Nebula, IC 2118, is a faint reflection nebula in Eridanus, approximately 900 light years from Earth. Its eerie profile, resembling a witch in silhouette, is illuminated by the brilliant blue supergiant star Rigel in nearby Orion, one of the brightest stars in our sky. Unlike emission nebulae that glow from ionized gas, IC 2118 shines by reflecting Rigels light off interstellar dust grains. The nebulas distinctive blue color results from the same physics that makes Earths sky blue, shorter blue wavelengths scatter more efficiently than red. This ghostly cloud spans about 50 light years and may be an ancient remnant from a supernova. The Witch Head perfectly captures the mysterious beauty of winters deep sky treasures.