IC2118 · Witch Head Nebula
| Chinese name | 女巫头星云 |
|---|---|
| Type | Reflection nebula |
| Constellation | Eri |
| RA | 05h02m |
| Dec | −07° |
| Apparent magnitude | — |
| Hemisphere | Both hemispheres |
| Best season | Winter |
| Difficulty | Hard |
| Focal length | 短—中焦 300–600mm |
About
About 900 light-years away in Eridanus, the Witch Head Nebula (IC 2118) is a faint blue reflection nebula illuminated by the nearby bright star Rigel (Beta Orionis). Its outline resembles the profile of a witch's face gazing upward. Faint in surface brightness, it needs deep exposure and dark skies to reveal its soft blue dust, a winter test of signal-to-noise.