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Wolverine
11th January 2006, 05:02 PM
Just, wow. The venerable orbital observatory continues to impress. Dig the latest (http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/newsdesk/archive/releases/2006/01/) imagery and findings released today in Washington D.C.. Simply awesome work capturing a perennial astronomical favorite.

I've posted an article with a few extra goodies here (http://wolvsden.blogspot.com/2006/01/hubbles-new-views-of-m42.html).
Melendwyr
11th January 2006, 05:19 PM
That's gorgeous. I know the colors are artificial, but... wow.

I've just set that as my computer background.
Wolverine
11th January 2006, 05:29 PM
That's gorgeous. I know the colors are artificial, but... wow.

Calling the colors "artificial" wouldn't be accurate.

See here (http://hubblesite.org/sci.d.tech/behind_the_pictures/meaning_of_color/index.shtml) for a rundown. There's very little "artistic license" taking place.
Melendwyr
11th January 2006, 07:12 PM
They do not represent what the eye would see if the eye were capable of that magnification and resolution. I consider that artificial.
Wolverine
11th January 2006, 09:22 PM
They do not represent what the eye would see if the eye were capable of that magnification and resolution. I consider that artificial.
It's contingent on which instrument is employed and what's being imaged, though, and for what purposes. Sometimes the color depictions very closely approximate what the eye would see; other times they do not, dependent upon what features are being highlighted and why.

This image (http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/newsdesk/archive/releases/2005/34/) of Mars for example, represents a most realistic view.

This false-color image (http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/newsdesk/archive/releases/1998/18/image/a) of Saturn was constructed to enhance the planet's atmospheric composition and highlight the differences.

Lots more here (http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/news_media_resources/reference_center/about_hubble/skytel200209028034.pdf). (.pdf)

The M42 mosaic uses all the instrument's in Hubble's arsenal; while some features are highlighted for illustrative purposes, others really aren't that far off. Pardon my aversion to the term "artificial" -- I just don't think it's entirely accurate. :)
Pauliesonne
11th January 2006, 10:36 PM
For some reason, which I am unaware of, " Nessun Dorma " or that tune from " Edward Schissorhands " from Danny Elfman comes to mind.
Melendwyr
12th January 2006, 07:41 AM
What about 'enhanced'? Unless they used frequences of red, green, and blue that our cones are sensitive to, the result just wouldn't purely natural. That image of Mars is probably fairly close to what we'd see if we were there. The others... aren't. They're beautiful anyway, but...
Shrinker
12th January 2006, 05:14 PM
Unless they used frequences of red, green, and blue that our cones are sensitive to, the result just wouldn't purely natural.

http://hubblesite.org/sci.d.tech/behind_the_pictures/meaning_of_color/rgb.shtml
Wolverine
12th January 2006, 05:32 PM
What about 'enhanced'?


I could live with that, where applicable.
cbish
12th January 2006, 06:01 PM
What about 'enhanced'? Unless they used frequences of red, green, and blue that our cones are sensitive to, the result just wouldn't purely natural. That image of Mars is probably fairly close to what we'd see if we were there. The others... aren't. They're beautiful anyway, but...
Are you assuming our eyes are an efficient tool to view reality?