Brief
NASA highlights Algol and Witch Head Nebula for Halloween skywatch
The agency shares light‑curve graphs and infrared portraits to encourage autumn stargazing.
By Felo News Desk · Published
NASA has spotlighted two celestial objects for the Halloween season: the eclipsing binary star Algol, known as the "Demon Star," and the Witch Head Nebula, a reflection nebula near Orion and Eridanus.
Algol (Beta Persei) lies in Perseus and dims from magnitude +2.1 to +3.4 roughly every three days as two stars orbit a third. Popsci notes that the agency provided a light‑curve graph created from data gathered by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) to illustrate the star’s regular “blinking.” The star’s nickname dates back to observations by Italian astronomer Geminiano Montanari in 1667 and a British amateur’s 1783 report of its varying brightness.
The Witch Head Nebula, situated about 900 light‑years from Earth between Orion and Eridanus, reflects light from the nearby star Rigel. NASA’s Wide‑field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) captured an infrared portrait that shows the nebula’s distinctive “bulbous chin, hooked nose and flopping hat.” An associated formation called the Witch’s Broom appears within the Western Veil Nebula in Cygnus.
Both objects are visible in the northeastern autumn sky, near the constellations Cassiopeia and Andromeda, according to the article.
Key facts
- Algol is an eclipsing binary star that dims every three days. (popsci.com)
- NASA used TESS data to produce a light‑curve graph of Algol. (popsci.com)
- The Witch Head Nebula lies about 900 light‑years from Earth between Orion and Eridanus. (popsci.com)
- WISE provided an infrared image of the Witch Head Nebula. (popsci.com)
Sources
- [1] popsci.com — originally reported as “Demon Star and Witch's Head kick off spooky space season”
