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Astronomy Picture of the Day - Rigel and the Witch Head Nebula
NASA ^
| 9 Nov. 2026
| Credit & Copyright: Piotr Czerski
Posted on 11/09/2026 12:47:05 PM PST by MtnClimber
Explanation: Does the blue nebula look like the head of a witch? The nebula is known popularly as the Witch Head Nebula because, it is said, the nebula's shape resembles a Halloween-style caricature of a witch's head. Exactly how, though, can be a topic of imaginative speculation. What is clear is that IC 2118 is about 50 light-years across and made of gas and dust that points to -- because it has been partly eroded by -- the nearby star Rigel. One of the brighter stars in the constellation Orion, Rigel lies just below the center of the featured image. The blue color of the Witch Head Nebula and is caused not only by Rigel's intense blue starlight but also because the dust grains scatter blue light more efficiently than red. The same physical process causes Earth's daytime sky to appear blue, although the scatterers in planet Earth's atmosphere are molecules of nitrogen and oxygen.
TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; nasa
To be added or removed from the Astronomy Picture of the Day ping list please send me a request via "Private Reply" (Mail). For more detail go to the link and click on the image for a high definition image. You can then move the magnifying glass cursor then click to zoom in and click again to zoom out. When zoomed in you can scan by moving the side bars on the bottom and right side of the image.
To: MtnClimber
2
posted on
11/09/2026 12:47:34 PM PST
by
MtnClimber
(For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
To: 21stCenturion; 21twelve; 31R1O; 4everontheRight; A Navy Vet; A_perfect_lady; abb; AFB-XYZ; ...
Pinging the APOD list
🪐 🌟 🌌 🍔
3
posted on
11/09/2026 12:48:37 PM PST
by
MtnClimber
(For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
To: MtnClimber
I see a luck dragon, but not a witch.
4
posted on
11/09/2026 12:49:37 PM PST
by
DannyTN
(h)
To: MtnClimber
I see a luck dragon, but not a witch.
5
posted on
11/09/2026 12:49:40 PM PST
by
DannyTN
(h)
To: MtnClimber
After last night’s football game, all I can see are Bear colors, lol!
6
posted on
11/09/2026 12:55:44 PM PST
by
telescope115
(Ad Astra, Ad Deum…)
To: MtnClimber
We’re only making plans for Rigel…
7
posted on
11/09/2026 1:04:28 PM PST
by
NavyShoe
To: MtnClimber
We’re only making plans for Rigel…
8
posted on
11/09/2026 1:04:29 PM PST
by
NavyShoe
To: MtnClimber
9
posted on
11/09/2026 1:22:31 PM PST
by
No name given
( Anonymous is who you’ll know me as )
To: MtnClimber
"...the Witch Head Nebula..."
10
posted on
11/09/2026 1:29:42 PM PST
by
Bonemaker
(invictus maneo )
To: Bonemaker
11
posted on
11/09/2026 1:56:23 PM PST
by
BenLurkin
(The above is not a statement of fact. It is opinion or satire. Or both.)
To: MtnClimber
12
posted on
11/09/2026 3:26:46 PM PST
by
redinIllinois
(Pro-life, accountant, gun-totin' Grandma - multi .issue vor in)
To: MtnClimber
13
posted on
11/09/2026 3:35:10 PM PST
by
MD Expat in PA
(No. I am not a doctor nor have I ever played one on TV. The MD in my screen name stands for Maryland)
To: MtnClimber
14
posted on
11/09/2026 6:13:49 PM PST
by
minnesota_bound
(Making money now. Still want much more.)
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