This wide-field view captures the dazzling blue supergiant star Rigel, the brightest star in Orion, and its spectral neighbor, the Witch Head Nebula (IC 2118). Rigel’s intense ultraviolet light illuminates the Witch Head, creating its ghostly blue glow as it reflects off interstellar dust. The intricate textures of the nebula resemble a witch's profile, adding a mythical touch to this cosmic scene.

Captured from SFRO in Texas, the image reveals the delicate interplay of light and dust stretching across this region of Orion. Surrounding faint nebulosity and subtle interstellar structures add depth to the composition, showcasing the vast, interconnected beauty of this celestial landscape. This dynamic pairing of star and nebula exemplifies the radiant harmony of the Orion region.

The Witch Head Nebula, a striking interstellar apparition, adorns the night sky with its eerie silhouette in the constellation Orion. This enigmatic nebula, officially cataloged as IC 2118, owes its haunting appearance to the interplay of starlight and cosmic dust, giving rise to its distinctive witch-like profile.

Situated about 900 light-years away from Earth, the Witch Head Nebula is illuminated by the brilliant star Rigel, one of the brightest stars in the constellation Orion. Rigel's intense ultraviolet radiation energizes the surrounding hydrogen gas, causing it to fluoresce and emit a ghostly blue glow. Meanwhile, the dark tendrils of dust within the nebula absorb and scatter the starlight, casting eerie shadows that evoke the image of a witch's profile against the cosmic canvas.