Witch Head
18 Feb 2016Thelan
Witch Head Nebula, like the Pleiades and Barnard's loop, is one of the most popular tourist attractions in our galactic neighborhood. Luckily, there are no permanent human outposts here yet, so one can enjoy the travels in relative safety.There are no stars within the bright part of the nebula itself (and a couple dim red dwarves in the dark part), but some systems on the edge of it offer beautiful vistas. I'd recommend to start with HIP 23759, which sits directly above the luminous core of the nebula and has multiple landable bodies.
The farthest gas giant of the system - HIP 23759 12.
Some of those moments look like cover art of a space adventure novel.
View from the surface of HIP 23759 12a.
If we move a couple jumps further, to an otherwise completely unremarkable red dwarf Witch Head Sector KC-U B3-0 with a score of also completely unremarkable icy planetoids orbiting it, the scenery changes, and we can get a good view of the bar of cold, dark gas that splits the Witch Head Nebula in two.
From Witch Head Sector HW-W C1-8 (binary, primary is class G, nothing of interest planet wise) the amethyst "tornado" of the central bar turns into a gaping maw of darkness that swallows the shining belt of the Milky Way. An ominous, but yet awesome sight.
Of course, all those shots are of very low quality and resolution. A traveller with high-end equipment will get incomparably better imagery.
I advise everyone to visit the Witch Head for memorable experience! Also, no pirates here. Or other people at all, for that matter.
Next stop: Spirograph Nebula!