Witch Head Nebula and Rigel

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Witch Head Nebula (IC 2118, blue, across upper frame) and the supergiant star Rigel (lower centre) immersed in the faint dust of the Orion-Eridanus molecular hydrogen cloud. IC 2118 is approximately 800 light years from Earth in the constellation of Eridanus. Rigel is approximately 860 light years from Earth in the constellation of Orion. The blue colour of IC 2118 is due to blue light from Rigel being reflected by the fine interstellar dust particles of the nebula.

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Photo credit: © MIGUEL CLARO/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: -, 2118, astronomical, astronomy, astrophysical, astrophysics, cloud, clouds, dust, eridanus, galactic, galaxies, galaxy, gas, head, hydrogen, ic, illuminated, illuminating, interstellar, luminous, molecular, nebula, nebulae, nebulosity, orion, orion-eridanus, reflection, rigel, space, star, starry, stars, stellar, supergiant, witch