Ever wonder how NASA gets striking images of the cosmos? 🌌
Unlike a traditional smartphone camera that produces an image in a fraction of a second, NASA's space telescopes, such as Webb, produce raw images that look nearly black at the start. The telescopes use various filters that detect certain molecules and elements, and files with matching characteristics are combined to create a base image. NASA then removes artifacts (elements that aren't necessary or needed for a research perspective) and carefully applies color chromatically via wavelength detection (short: blue, medium: green, and long: red). Through careful color balancing and composition, the photos are now ready for the public eye to take in.
Visual Descriptions:
1.On the left are six images of the Pillars of Creation taken by different color filters from Webb’s Near-Infrared Camera. Once combined, they form the initial composite image on the right. From there, the image will need to go through color balancing and composition editing.
Credit: NASA
2. A photograph of the Pillars of Creation features a highly detailed view of interstellar cloud columns made up of gas and dust taken by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope’s near-infrared-light view.
Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI; Image Processing: Joseph DePasquale (STScI), Anton Koekemoer (STScI), Alyssa Pagan (STScI)