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"The sky is the ultimate art gallery just above us." - Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 - 82)
Astrophotography by Jason Jennings

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Nebulae :: IC2118 - WitchHead Nebula


IC2118 - WitchHead Nebula

 

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         Object WitchHead Nebula
         Comment A sinister shaped figure known as the WitchHead Nebula (IC2118) resides in the constellation Eridanus. The nebula primarily glows due to the reflected light from the bright star Rigel located 2.6 degrees away in the constellation Orion (seen top right of frame). The blue hues are due to the dusty characteristics of the nebula as dust reflects blue light more efficiently than red light. This is in contrast to the interstellar reddening phenomenon where dust suppresses blue light near the center of our Milky Way galaxy. The WitchHead Nebula resides approximately 1,000 light years away.

The image is a BRGB composite. Blue channel reused for luminance.
         Optics Takahashi FSQ-106ED F/5 (530mm FL)
         Camera SBIG STL-11000M - 1x1 bin (image scale: 3.5 arcsec/pix)
         Mount Losmandy Titan
         Exposure Total exposure time: 5 hours (R:90min,G:90min,B:120min)
         Date Acquired over two nights.
29/12/2007
30/12/2007

 

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