Title of image
IC 2118 (also known as Witch Head Nebula due to its shape), is an extremely faint reflection nebula believed to be an ancient supernova remnant or gas cloud illuminated by nearby supergiant star Rigel in Orion.
It lies in the Eridanus constellation, about 900 light-years from Earth. The nature of the dust particles, reflecting blue light better than red, is a factor in giving the Witch Head its blue color. Radio observations show substantial carbon monoxide emission throughout parts of IC 2118 an indicator of the presence of molecular clouds and star formation in the nebula. In fact candidates for pre-main sequence stars and some classic T-Tauri stars have been found deep within the nebula.
The molecular clouds of IC 2118 are probably juxtaposed to the outer boundaries of the vast Orion-Eridanus bubble, a giant supershell of molecular hydrogen blown by the high mass stars of the Orion OB1 association. As the supershell expands into the interstellar medium, favorable circumstances for star formation occur. IC 2118 is located in one such area.The wind blown appearance and cometary shape of the bright reflection nebula is highly suggestive of a strong association with the high mass luminous stars of Orion OB1.
The fact that the heads of the cometary clouds of IC2118 point northeast towards the association is strong support of that relationship.
Rigel & the IC2118 The Witch Head Nebula.
Exposure Details (Mosaic of two photos with the same conditions).
Location: Àger-Lleida
Date : Gener 03, 2014
Time: 01:00 am -- 4:30 am
Mount: Astrotrac
Lens: Sigma 300 f/2.8 (closed at f/3.5)
Camera: Canon 5D Mark II mod.
Filter: without filter.
Guiding: without guiding.
Exposure Lghts: 30 x 160 sec ISO 1000
Exposure Darks: 30 x 160 sec ISO 1000
Exposure Flats: 30 x 160 sec "AV" ISO 1000.
Exposure Bias: 100 x 1/8000 ISO 1000.
Temperature: -1.4 // -4 Cº
SQM Reading: 21.50 mag/arcseg2
Seeing: 4/5
Software used: Pixinsight 1.8.0.1.1087
Best Regards.
http://www.astrosirius.org
Copyright: Lluis Romero Ventura
