How does NASA take pictures of galaxies?

Hubble flies around, or orbits, high above Earth and its atmosphere. Hubble uses a digital camera. It takes pictures like a cell phone. Then Hubble uses radio waves to send the pictures through the air back to Earth.

Why are NASA photos black and white?

In order to capture a maximum amount of information in their space photos, NASA captures multiple black-and-white images using different filters in the camera. These images are then combined in post to create the iconic color photographs that you see published by the space agency.

How does NASA take pictures of the earth?

Earth. Satellites in orbit regularly photograph the Earth’s surface. NASA’s Landsat series of satellites have consistently orbited and captured images of the Earth since the program launched in 1972.

Do we see past stars?

Yes. When we look at the stars, we are seeing them as they were years ago. If a star is 100 light years away, we are seeing it as it was 100 years ago, etc. If a star dies (goes nova), we won’t know about it for the year-equivalent of its distance in light-years.

Why are elliptical galaxies elliptical?

The universe is a violent place, and collisions between galaxies are frequent — indeed, the Milky Way is due to crash into the Andromeda Galaxy in a few billion years. When two spirals collide, they lose their familiar shape, morphing into the less-structured elliptical galaxies.

Is there a CGI image of a spaceship approaching a planet?

There are a few CGI images that show things like a spaceship approaching a planet. This is one such example. It is a composite of an actual photographic view of earth, with a CGI image of the spacecraft: Naturally, a spacecraft can’t take a photo like this of itself.

Are composite images from NASA real or fake?

You may have heard or read about composite images from NASA, and then someone saying that because they are composite they are fake. Those people have no idea what they are talking about. CGI. CGI stands for Computer Generated Imagery. By definition, CG images are 100\% created by means of a computer software.

What is a CGI image?

Those people have no idea what they are talking about. CGI. CGI stands for Computer Generated Imagery. By definition, CG images are 100\% created by means of a computer software. For example, I open Photoshop, create a new file with a black background and paint a small white dot in the middle.

Can a spacecraft take a photo of itself like this?

It is a composite of an actual photographic view of earth, with a CGI image of the spacecraft: Naturally, a spacecraft can’t take a photo like this of itself. There is no robot arm extending like the arm of a person taking a selfie, as you see in the Mars Rover photos.