CLICK ON IMAGE TO VIEW A HIGH RESOLUTION VERSION
IC 2118, commonly known as the Witch Head Nebula, is a faint and haunting reflection nebula drifting along the western edge of the constellation Eridanus. Its elongated, curved shape resembles the profile of a spectral face gazing across the stars, giving rise to its evocative nickname.
Unlike glowing emission nebulae, IC 2118 shines by reflecting the light of nearby stars, most notably the brilliant blue supergiant Rigel in Orion. Rigel’s intense starlight illuminates the nebula’s fine dust grains, bathing the Witch Head in soft blue hues and revealing delicate wisps and filaments that stretch across light-years of space.
The nebula lies relatively close in cosmic terms, at a distance of roughly 900–1,000 light-years, and is composed primarily of cold interstellar dust rather than active star-forming gas. Its subtle brightness and low surface contrast make IC 2118 a challenging but rewarding target for deep-sky observation and astrophotography, especially under dark skies.
Ethereal and understated, the Witch Head Nebula is a striking example of how interstellar dust can sculpt light into ghostly forms, offering a quiet, atmospheric counterpoint to Orion’s more dramatic and luminous neighbors.
Technical Details
Telescope: Sky-Watcher Esprit 100ED Refractor
Auto Focus: ZWO Electronic Auto Focuser
Astronomy Camera: ZWO ASI071MC Pro
Filter: Optolong UV-IR cut filter; 300 exposures @ 120 seconds each (10 hours)
Filter: Optolong UV-IR cut filter; 72 exposures @ 5 minutes each (6 hours)
Total Integration Time: 16 hours
Auto Guiding: William Optics Uniguide 50mm Guide Scope
Auto Guiding Camera: ZWO ASI120MM Mini Guide Camera
Auto Guiding Software: PHD2
Telescope Mount: Celestron CGX Equatorial Mount
Telescope Computer: BeeLink GK-55 Mini PC / Windows 10 Pro
Wireless Communication: GL-iNEt Beryl Travel Router
Telescope Control & Image Capture Software: Nighttime Imaging ‘N’ Astronomy (N.I.N.A.)
Image Integration Software: Astro Pixel Process, by Aries Productions
Image Post Processing Software: PixInsight, by Pleiades Astrophoto
Images captured:
Eastern Mojave Desert, CA during November 2021. Dark sky classification = Rural sky (Bortle 3)