images

IC 2118 The Witch Head nebula

by

J.Lodriguss/Novapix

Reference

a-nec21-18002

Date

2006-08-27

The Witch's Head Nebula (IC 2118) is located in Eridanus. It is a very large (1 x 3 degree) and extremely faint reflection nebula located just over the border from Orion. It is believed to be illuminated by Rigel, which is just to the east (out of this frame). Reflection nebulae are made of smoke-sized dust particles that do not glow on their own like emission nebulae, but rather are illuminated by the reflected light of nearby stars.