Nebula colors always looked fake to me, but I was wrong

I figured astronomers just jazzed up the photos. Turns out, specific filters catch different gas emissions, and that's what creates the rainbow effect. I get it now.

3 comments

3 Comments

david_gonzalez1mo ago

Assumed nebula photos were always jazzed up for show. Learned they use filters that only catch light from certain gases, like hydrogen for red and oxygen for blue. Saw a breakdown of how the Hubble palette maps different emissions to colors. It made the whole thing look less fake and more just how space actually is.

xena_thompson711mo ago

Filters or no filters, it's still a pretty picture made for humans. Doubt the nebulae mind being blue instead of red.

grace6111mo ago

Alter the colors and you cover up the real emissions. It's more about making art than showing space.