---
title: "the Witch Head Nebula"
url: "https://spacecatalog.org/object/ngc-1909"
release: "DR1"
licence: "CC-BY-SA-4.0"
citation: "SpaceCatalog. the Witch Head Nebula [catalogue entry]. Data release DR1 (2026-08-21). https://spacecatalog.org/object/ngc-1909"
---

# the Witch Head Nebula

the Witch Head Nebula is a reflection [nebula](https://spacecatalog.org/nebulae) in the constellation [Eridanus](https://spacecatalog.org/constellation/eridanus). Other catalogues list it as Ced 41, IC 2118 and LBN 959, among 6 designations in total. It was discovered in 1786.

## At a glance

- **WHAT IT IS:** Reflection nebula
- **HOW BIG ON THE SKY:** 3.00° — About 5.8 full Moons wide.
- **WHERE TO LOOK:** [Eridanus](https://spacecatalog.org/constellation/eridanus) — The patch of sky it sits in, as seen from Earth.

## Properties

| Quantity | Value |
| --- | --- |
| CLASS | Reflection nebula |
| CONSTELLATION | Eridanus |
| RIGHT ASCENSION (J2000) | 05h 04m 55.4s |
| DECLINATION (J2000) | −07° 15′ 56.3″ |
| DISCOVERED | 1786 |

## Catalogue data

### WHERE IT IS AND HOW IT MOVES

Position, motion across the sky and the size it covers on it. These are measurements of the object as seen from here, so every one of them depends on where here is.

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Major axis | 180′ |
| Minor axis | 60′ |

### WHEN IT WAS FOUND

Who first saw it, from where, and by what method.

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Discovered by | William Herschel |

### OTHER NAMES AND NUMBERS

The identifiers other catalogues file this object under, for anyone joining this data to theirs.

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Also known as | Witch Head Nebula |
| OpenNGC type code | RfN |
| Wikidata item | Q1079743 |
| Wikipedia article | IC 2118 |

## Also known as

- Cederblad: Ced 41
- Common name: the Witch Head Nebula
- IC: IC 2118
- LBN: LBN 959
- Lynds: LBN 207.50-27.78
- NGC: NGC 1909

## Source

[OpenNGC](https://github.com/mattiaverga/OpenNGC) — CC-BY-SA-4.0

The producer asks: OpenNGC, Mattia Verga (github.com/mattiaverga/OpenNGC). Fields derived from it stay under CC BY-SA 4.0.

How this was made: https://spacecatalog.org/methods#source-openngc

## Cite this page

SpaceCatalog. the Witch Head Nebula \[catalogue entry\]. Data release DR1 (2026-08-21). https://spacecatalog.org/object/ngc-1909

```bibtex
@misc{spacecatalog_ngc-1909,
  author       = {{SpaceCatalog}},
  title        = {{the Witch Head Nebula}},
  howpublished = {SpaceCatalog, data release DR1 (2026-08-21)},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://spacecatalog.org/object/ngc-1909},
  note         = {Catalogue entry, data release DR1 (2026-08-21). Values from OpenNGC.}
}
```

OpenNGC — CC-BY-SA-4.0

Acknowledgement the producer asks for: OpenNGC, Mattia Verga (github.com/mattiaverga/OpenNGC). Fields derived from it stay under CC BY-SA 4.0.

The page itself, with its pictures, the sky map and the observing tools: https://spacecatalog.org/object/ngc-1909