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                        Astronomy Picture of the Day

    Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                               2024 October 31

                       Rigel and the Witch Head Nebula
                   Image Credit & Copyright: Simone Curzi

   Explanation: By starlight, this eerie visage shines in the dark with a
   crooked profile evoking its popular name, the Witch Head Nebula. In
   fact, this entrancing telescopic portrait gives the impression that a
   witch has fixed her gaze on Orion's bright supergiant star Rigel. More
   formally known as IC 2118, the Witch Head Nebula spans about 50
   light-years and is composed of interstellar dust grains reflecting
   Rigel's starlight. The color of the Witch Head Nebula is caused not
   only by Rigel's intense blue light, but 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 Earth's
   atmosphere are molecules of nitrogen and oxygen. Rigel and this dusty
   cosmic crone are about 800 light-years away. You may still see a few
   witches in your neighborhood tonight though, so have a safe and Happy
   Halloween!

                     Tomorrow's picture: pixels in space
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       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply.
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