What specific color channel is assigned to light emitted by ionized oxygen (O III) in the Hubble Palette?
Answer
Blue channel
The Hubble Palette employs a systematic assignment where different chemical elements, identified by their unique spectral emission lines, are deliberately mapped to the primary color channels (RGB) to facilitate visualization of physical conditions. Specifically, the light emitted by ionized oxygen (O III) is conventionally mapped to the blue channel. This assignment is strategic because O III emission often indicates regions of higher energy ionization within a nebula, meaning that by observing where the blue color is strongest in the final image, researchers can immediately locate areas where the gas is being excited by the hottest stars present.
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