In shades of what color is the naked-eye view of the Milky Way predominantly seen in dark sky locations?
Answer
White or gray
The primary reason the naked-eye view lacks the vibrancy seen in photographs relates to the function of human photoreceptor cells in low light. Human vision relies on rod cells for perception in dim environments, as the cone cells responsible for color vision require significant light to activate and thus effectively shut down. Since rod cells are largely colorblind, the resulting view of the Milky Way is perceived mostly in shades of white or gray.
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