Higher-resolution versions:  1280 x 1024  1680 x 1050  3881 x 2495

Object Type: Reflection nebula
Constellation: Eridanus
Magnitude:
Size: 160' x 60'

IC 2118 is a very faint reflection nebula illuminated by Rigel, which is about three degrees to its east. When viewed at an orientation 90 degrees counterclockwise, it resembles an elongated face in profile, with the brightest portions forming the "chin" and "nose," giving rise to its informal name of the "Witch Head Nebula."

Equipment: Vixen 102-ED/TS Optics field flattener/STL-11000M/Astrodon LRGB filters/Paramount ME
F-ratio: f/6.5
Exposures: BRGB: R 18 x 10 minutes: G 12 x 10 minutes: B 16 x 20 minutes: RG binned 2x2
Date: November 11-12, 2010
Location: Landers, California, USA
Technical Notes: Individual exposures were dithered using CCDAutoPilot2 and then sigma combined. The RGB image was created in Registar 1.0. Reduce Noise and Gaussian Blur were applied to the RGB image and the luminance image. Glare from the zero-magnitude star Rigel created the artifact at the bottom of the image, while glare from third-magnitude Cursa created the artifact on the left side of the image.