How do astronomers often present the complex elemental composition of nebulae in processed images?

Answer

Through false color or representative color imaging, mapping specific ion emissions to visible channels

Hubble and other advanced images use specialized filters to isolate light from specific ions, which are then mapped deliberately to red, green, and blue channels to clarify elemental structures, resulting in a scientifically useful, representative color image.

How do astronomers often present the complex elemental composition of nebulae in processed images?

#Videos

What Makes Emission Nebulae Glow In Distinct Colors? - YouTube

What Makes Emission Nebulae Glow So Brightly? - Physics Frontier

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