Witch Head Nebula IC 2118

Taken December 14, 2004

Kitt Peak National Observatory

 Image Credit: Fred Calvert / Adam Block / KPNO /AURA / NSF

 

The Witch Head Nebula (IC2118) is being blown apart by the star Rigel, which also give the nebula it blue color.

Rigel, a late B-Type Supergiant Magnitude 0.18 blue star, is located to the top right of this image. (Not in View)

The blue color is caused not only by Rigel's blue color but because the dust grains reflect blue light more efficiently that red light.

The Witch Head is about a 1000 light years away  in the Constellation Eridanus

Equipment:  

Televue (480mm f6.3)  with Televue Field Flattener. SBIG ST10XME w Color Filter Wheel Piggybacked to a RC Optics 20" on a Paramount ME mount.

Exposure Data:

LRGB

Luminance = 45 minutes (synthetic) binned 1 X 1

Red = 45 minutes binned 1 X 1

Green = 45 minutes binned 1 X 1                                

Blue = 45 minutes binned 1 X 1

                                                                                                                                                                                    

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