Colours

[markcollier8 (Mark)]

Are there any true colours in the Universe within the realm of what you would call normal space or are the filters etc what give the human spectrum?

[sheeny (Al)]

G'Day Mark,

The colours are really there, yes. All the filters do is allow the camera to separate one band of frequencies from another - they don't change the frequencies.

The reason it all looks black and white (often) is simply a matter of light intensity and the sensitivity of the human eye. We need high intensity (bright) light to see colours with the cone receptors in our eyes. In dim light, the cones don't work and the rod receptors in our eyes take over, but the rods only detect in black and white.

Al.

[Quark (Trevor)]

Originally Posted by markcollier8

Are there any true colours in the Universe within the realm of what you would call normal space or are the filters etc what give the human spectrum?

Hi Mark,

The Universe is ablaze with colour, its certainly real and as Al pointed out, the reason we don't perceive that colour when we look through our scopes, related directly to how our eyes perceive colour at low light levels.

David Malin pioneered a revolution in astro imaging, revealing the true colours of the universe and it was he that really showed the scientific value of colour imaging.

David has many publications but probably one of his best is "The Invisible Universe", a book of his major works. Check out your local library, it may well have a copy.

Regards
Trevor

[markcollier8 (Mark)]

Thank you Trevor & Al for quick response on the colour question I'm not not complaining thou I think if all space was lit up like a rainbow it just would'nt be the same!! Theres just something about a dark night full of life!!