This is the reflection nebula called the Witch Head Nebula, but officially IC 2118 (also with the catalogue number NGC 1909), near the very bright sta
This is the reflection nebula called the Witch Head Nebula, but officially IC 2118 (also with the catalogue number NGC 1909), near the very bright star Rigel, at lower left in Orion. But the nebula is over the border in Eridanus the River. Hot blue-white Rigel is the source of illumination lighting this dusty nebula. Some faint magenta emission nebulosity also populates the field in Orion. This is a stack of 29 x 6-minute exposures through the Astro-Tech AT90CFT refractor with its Reducer for , and with the filter-modified Canon R camera at ISO 800. No filter was employed here. Taken from home on a very clear night November 17/18, 2023, though with the field getting low in the southwest for the final frames in the set. Autoguided with the MGEN3 guider on the AP Mach 1 mount. Applications of luminosity masks from Lumenzia, a PhotoKemi Nebula Filter action, a Detail Extractor filter from the Nik Collection 6 Color EFX, and a mild glow enhancement with a Radiant Photo filter (the latter two applied to a starless layer created with RC-Astro Star XTerminator) brought out the nebulosity in this rich region of sky. Being so bright, Rigel is creating some glow and flaring in the optics. I should also have aimed the scope a little lower to compose the scene with Rigel and the Witch Head a little higher in the frame.
Size: 6720px × 4320px
Photo credit: © Alan Dyer / VWPics / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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