Skip to main content

Rigel and the Witch Head Nebula • 10/31/24

Posted by Specola Profile 10/31/24 at 02:16PM Science - Tech - Astronomy See more by Specola

NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day:

By starlight, this eerie visage shines in the dark with a crooked profile evoking its popular name, the Witch Head Nebula. In fact, this entrancing telescopic portrait gives the impression that a witch has fixed her gaze on Orion's bright supergiant star Rigel. More formally known as IC 2118, the Witch Head Nebula spans about 50 light-years and is composed of interstellar dust grains reflecting Rigel's starlight. The color of the Witch Head Nebula is caused not only by Rigel's intense blue light, but because the dust grains scatter blue light more efficiently than red. The same physical process causes Earth's daytime sky to appear blue, although the scatterers in Earth's atmosphere are molecules of nitrogen and oxygen. Rigel and this dusty cosmic crone are about 800 light-years away. You may still see a few witches in your neighborhood tonight though, so have a safe and Happy Halloween!

Photo by Simone Curzi

Hunger impacts all of us | 360-435-1631

Click the Image to learn more about us

Read more from Pepe's Painting LLC

Powered by Volunteers | 360-794-7959

Snohomish, Skagit and Island County

Giving Kids in Need the Chance to Read
  Non-profit organization - Seattle, WA