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Riotto
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Why do galaxy and galaxy clusters look so colorful?
And what makes you think they are? Internet photos? Most of those are color enhanced with a combination of overlays from varying frequency ranges shifted to the visible.Riotto said:Why do galaxy and galaxy clusters look so colorful?
phinds said:And what makes you think they are? Internet photos?.
Riotto said:Yes. Are the colours in these pictures completely unreal? I thought there must be some 'atomic physics and spectroscopy theory' behind these beautiful pictures.
Cor! I wish my telescope was as good as yours.davenn said:Many in that set are accurate colours ...
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View attachment 206021many have been severely enhanced and no longer look like reality
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View attachment 206024and there are also a number of pure artist's impressions there too ... that is, not actual astro images
There is a lot of colour out there with the variety in composition of the gasses in the nebula
the colour/temperature of the star illuminating that gas
Dave
davenn cheats ... he knows stuff.sophiecentaur said:Cor! I wish my telescope as as good as yours.
phinds said:davenn cheats ... he knows stuff.
All those clever clogs who actually KNOW Maths! V humbling.davenn said:hahaha
but I tell you something ... It doesn't take being on PF for very long to realize there are a lot of people that know a lot more stuff !
sophiecentaur said:All those clever clogs who actually KNOW Maths! V humbling.
davenn said:Uh huh ... maths and I do not have a good relationship ...
not being able to do the required two first year maths papers at uni is what stopped me finishing my BSc in geology
Followed by in depth study?Drakkith said:Don't worry. I hear people going into geology usually have a 'rocky' start.
Well, of course, since they are striving for cavernous knowledgesophiecentaur said:Followed by in depth study?
Galaxies and galaxy clusters have different colors due to a combination of factors, including the age and type of stars present, the amount of gas and dust within them, and their distance from Earth. These factors influence the amount and type of light emitted by the galaxies, resulting in a range of colors.
The colors of galaxies and galaxy clusters are closely linked to their evolution. For example, younger galaxies tend to have a bluish color due to the presence of hot, young stars, while older galaxies may have a reddish color due to the depletion of gas and fewer young stars. The colors can also indicate the level of star formation and activity within the galaxies, providing insight into their evolutionary stage.
Some galaxies may appear to have a mix of colors because they contain a variety of stars at different stages of their evolution. For example, a galaxy with a central bulge of older, reddish stars may also have a disk of younger, bluish stars. This mix of colors can also be influenced by interactions with other galaxies, which can trigger bursts of star formation and create a range of colors within the galaxy.
Not necessarily. While galaxy clusters can contain a large number of galaxies, many of these galaxies may be old and have a similar color. On the other hand, individual galaxies can also have a range of colors within them due to their internal structures and processes. Therefore, the amount of color in a galaxy cluster versus an individual galaxy can vary.
We can determine the colors of galaxies and galaxy clusters through various methods, including spectroscopy and imaging. Spectroscopy involves analyzing the light emitted by the galaxies to determine the chemical composition and temperature of the stars, which can then be used to estimate their color. Imaging techniques, such as using filters to isolate specific wavelengths of light, can also provide information about the colors of galaxies and galaxy clusters.