Which element emission is often mapped to the blue/green color in composite scientific images?
Answer
Oxygen
The vibrant colors seen in astronomical images of nebulae are often not what the human eye would perceive naturally but are assigned systematically by scientists to translate raw data into chemically meaningful visualizations. This process involves mapping specific element emissions, detected through particular filters, to visible color ranges. For instance, hydrogen-alpha emissions are frequently mapped to red, while sulfur emissions might be assigned red or orange hues; critically, oxygen emissions are commonly mapped to the blue or green parts of the visible spectrum to aid in distinguishing the chemical composition across the structure.
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