May 3, 2024

Cosmic Chameleon: Galaxy’s Stunning Transformation by Hubble Filters

The same galaxy was the subject of another Hubble Picture of the Week (see image listed below), however the two images are notably different. Take an appearance at this weeks image and the earlier image of NGC 1385. Can you see the additional information (due to additional filters being utilized) in this weeks image?

Hubble Space Telescope picture of the barred spiral galaxy NGC 1385, located about 30 million light-years away. Credit: ESA/Hubble & & NASA, R. Chandar, J. Lee and the PHANGS-HST team
The barred spiral galaxy NGC 1385 appears in 2 noticeably different Hubble telescope images, credited to making use of various specialized filters.
The same galaxy was the subject of another Hubble Picture of the Week (see image listed below), however the two images are significantly different. This more recent image has far more pinkish-red and umber shades, whereas the previous image was controlled by cool blues.
Hubble Space Telescope picture of spiral nebula NGC 1385, situated 68 million light-years away from Earth, in the constellation Fornax. Credit: ESA/Hubble & & NASA, J. Lee and the PHANGS-HST Team
Comprehending Telescope Imaging Techniques
It is reasonable to be a bit baffled as to how the very same galaxy, imaged two times by the same telescope, might be represented so in a different way in 2 different images.

The reason is that– like all effective telescopes utilized by expert astronomers for scientific research– Hubble is geared up with a variety of filters. These highly specialized components have little similarity to filters used on social media: those software-powered filters are added after the image has actually been taken, and trigger info to be lost from the image as particular colors are exaggerated or reduced for aesthetic effect.
On the other hand, telescope filters are pieces of physical hardware that only enable really particular wavelengths of light to go into the telescope as the data are being collected. This does cause light to be lost, however indicates that astronomers can penetrate exceptionally specific parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. This is very beneficial for a number of reasons; for instance, physical procedures within certain components release light at really particular wavelengths, and filters can be enhanced to these wavelengths.
Comparing Images of NGC 1385
Have a look at this weeks image and the earlier picture of NGC 1385. What are the distinctions? Can you see the additional information (due to additional filters being utilized) in this weeks image?