What combination of techniques do instruments like the James Webb Space Telescope use to create vivid nebula photographs?

Answer

Long exposure times combined with specialized filters.

The spectacular, highly detailed, and color-rich images of nebulae captured by advanced observatories like the Hubble Space Telescope or the James Webb Space Telescope rely on sophisticated data acquisition methods that differ significantly from what the human eye perceives. These instruments utilize very long exposure times, sometimes lasting many minutes, to gather every available photon of light from the faint structures. Furthermore, they employ specialized filters designed to isolate and emphasize light emitted or reflected at precise wavelengths corresponding to specific chemical elements. By mapping these spectral signatures to different colors in the final composite image, astronomers reveal chemical composition and structure invisible to immediate visual observation.

What combination of techniques do instruments like the James Webb Space Telescope use to create vivid nebula photographs?

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