The Witch Head and the Surrounding Molecular Clouds

Image Title: The Witch Head and the Surrounding Molecular Clouds

Copyright: Piotr Czerski

Date image was taken: November 18, 2025

Location: Łapszanka, Poland

Data Acquisition Method: Personal Telescope Setup

Description and Details: The Witch Head Nebula (IC 2118) appears in this deep wide-field image, illuminated by reflected starlight from Rigel near the edge of Orion. The blue reflection nebula is surrounded by a complex network of faint Hα emission and dark dust clouds, revealing subtle structures that are usually lost in shallower exposures. This long-integration view highlights the interplay of gas, dust, and radiation shaping this region of the Orion Molecular Complex.

Telescope: Samyang 135mm f/2.0
Camera: ZWO ASI 2600MC Pro
Mounts: ZWO AM3
Filters: Antlia ALP-T Dual, IDAS LPS-D1
Total integration time: 6 hours 10 minutes

Name: Piotr Czerski

Website or Facebook Profile: http://www.astrobin.com/users/PiotrC/