Picture of the Day for Wednesday, September 19, 2012

[Bondai]

Messier 81, also known as NGC 3031 or Bode's Galaxy, is a spiral galaxy about 12 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Ursa Major. Due to its relative proximity, large size and active galactic nucleus, Messier 81 has been studied extensively by professional astronomers. Its relatively high brightness also makes it a popular target for amateur astronomers.
Photo: NASA, ESA, STScI/AURA

[Gina]

Ok, I have a question.  I don't know anything about this subject really.  So.....  How do they get those images of all these galaxies?  Is that how it really looks or are those just numbers and the computer makes an image of what it thinks it looks like?

[thundley4]

Ok, I have a question.  I don't know anything about this subject really.  So.....  How do they get those images of all these galaxies?  Is that how it really looks or are those just numbers and the computer makes an image of what it thinks it looks like?

http://hubblesite.org/gallery/

[Gina]

http://hubblesite.org/gallery/

Really?  You are going to make me read?  HOW DARE YOU! 

[thundley4]

Really?  You are going to make me read?  HOW DARE YOU! 

There are lots of pictures, too. 

[Wineslob]

Ok, I have a question.  I don't know anything about this subject really.  So.....  How do they get those images of all these galaxies?  Is that how it really looks or are those just numbers and the computer makes an image of what it thinks it looks like?

Short answer, yes, but not to the naked eye.

The telescope is setup with a motor drive that will keep it pointed at the Galaxy so that a long exposure photograph can be made. That was in the "old days" done with film. Now they use a CCD (charge-coupled device) that's essentially digital "film" and do a long exposure.


The above galaxy is visible through a 13" telescope I have, but to the naked eye, does not have the color (all will look green as that's the wave length of light our eyes are most sensitive to) and not the detail seen.

However the nebula in Orion, while still looking green, can show allot of detail in my "scope".
like this picture that looks very close to what I see:

[Karin]

Man, that Wineslob.  What a know-it-all. 


 

[Eupher]

Short answer, yes, but not to the naked eye.

The telescope is setup with a motor drive that will keep it pointed at the Galaxy so that a long exposure photograph can be made. That was in the "old days" done with film. Now they use a CCD (charge-coupled device) that's essentially digital "film" and do a long exposure.


The above galaxy is visible through a 13" telescope I have, but to the naked eye, does not have the color (all will look green as that's the wave length of light our eyes are most sensitive to) and not the detail seen.

However the nebula in Orion, while still looking green, can show allot of detail in my "scope".
like this picture that looks very close to what I see:

Wait, don't tell me. That's the "Flying Goose" galaxy, right? Damn thing looks like a freakin' Canada goose.

[Wineslob]

That's the Orion Nebula.

Hi-Res:



This is a good pic, it shows the "trapezium" (stars) which lights up the gasses. I've looked at the Orion through a 16" (mirror) scope and because of the size of the scope and eyepiece (excellent exit pupil) the nebula took up the entire field of view (eye). It actually felt like (visually) you stuck your head in space. The nebula looked much like cotton candy, except you could see into it.


If you want, I can get technical.

 

[DLR Pyro]

I've been watching the series How The Universe Works on the Science Channel which is very informative as to how the planets, stars and galaxies are formed from dying stars.  You really have to alter your thinking of time and space when considering the enormity and complexity of the Universe.