Happy Sweet Sixteen, Hubble!

[syscom3]

Originally Posted by Soren

One thing worth remembering though is that the pictures taken by Hubble above are infrared pictures, which means it doesn't look the same to the human eye if we ever get that close ourselves, but an amazing sight it is going to be regardless.

Here's an interesting article on the difference between infrared, X-ray, gamma-ray and radio vision compared to our own vision: http://science.nasa.gov/newhome/head...t20apr99_1.htm

Those pictures are in visible wavelength. The Hubble doesnt use IR sensors. Some of the pictures are color enhanced or partially color shifted to enhance visibility.

[Soren]

Originally Posted by syscom3

Those pictures are in visible wavelength. The Hubble doesnt use IR sensors. Some of the pictures are color enhanced or partially color shifted to enhance visibility.

Nope syscom3, the Hubble telescope does actually take infrared pictures with a camera called the NICMOS, here are some more pictures taken by this camera:

[syscom3]

Youre right. I was thinking of the other instruments.

[Pisis]

Yeah how big is your screen Les? I had to shift the bar three times to achieve the end of that pic horizontally... I'm running 1280x1024...

[Soren]

One more Infrared picture taken by Hubble: