IC 2118, the Witch Head Nebula, is a large and very faint reflection nebula in Eridanus, illuminated by nearby brilliant Rigel (Beta Orionis).

Rigel is a blue-white supergiant spectral class B star which lies 2.5 degrees to the east, at lower left in this image.

The Witch Head is located at a distance of 800 light-years. It is believed to lie on the outer portion of the Orion-Eridanus bubble, a giant shell of molecular hydrogen blown out by the hot blue stars in the Orion OB1 association.

The Witch's Head is made of very fine dust particles that reflect the strong blue light from Rigel.

IC 2118 was discovered photographically by Max Wolf in 1909.

North is to the top in the above image.

IC 2118 Catalogs: IC 2118, NGC 1909, LBN 959 Common Name: Witch Head Nebula Object Type: Reflection Nebula Size: 3° x 1°' Constellation: Eridanus Image Field Centered At: RA: 05h 08m 25s Dec: -07° 15' 24"