Astronomy Picture of the Day for 2008 October

HALLOWEEN 2008

A Witch by Starlight

Credit & Copyright: Star Shadows Remote Observatory

(Steve Mazlin, Jack Harvey, Rick Gilbert, Teri Smoot, Daniel Verschatse)

Explanation: By starlight this eerie visage shines in the dark, a crooked profile evoking its popular name, the Witch Head Nebula. In fact, this entrancing telescopic portrait gives the impression the witch has fixed her gaze on Orion's bright supergiant star Rigel. Spanning over 50 light-years, the dusty cosmic cloud strongly reflects nearby Rigel's blue light, giving it the characteristic color of a reflection nebula. Catalogued as IC 2118, the Witch Head Nebula is about 1,000 light-years away. Of course, you might see a witch this scary tonight, but don't panic. Have a safe and Happy Halloween!

CLOSEUP OF THE WITCH HEAD NEBULA from the ASTRONOMY PICTURE of the DAY for 2006 Dec 11

NOTE THAT THE BRIGHT STAR RIGEL IS OUT OF RANGE IN THE PHOTO BELOW

UNTIL YOU CLICK ON "FULL IMAGE" IN THE CAPTION BELOW THIS PICTURE

IC 2118: The Witch Head Nebula

Image Data: Digitized Sky Survey; Color Composite: Noel Carboni

Explanation: Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble -- maybe Macbeth should have consulted the Witch Head Nebula. This suggestively shaped reflection nebula is associated with the bright star Rigel in the constellation Orion. More formally known as IC 2118, the Witch Head Nebula glows primarily by light reflected from bright star Rigel, located just off the upper right edge of the full image. Fine dust in the nebula reflects the light. The blue color is caused not only by Rigel's blue color but because the dust grains reflect 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. The nebula lies about 1000 light-years away.

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From the Astronomy Picture of the Day - Go to ASTR0-LINKS at Left Menu for the website.