Behold a false-color image of Messier Object 27, better known as the Dumbbell Nebula.
False-color images of astronomical objects are not unusual, of course, but what’s unique about this one is that I created it my ownself, while noodling around on software the final day of LaunchPad.
And the absolutely cool thing is that you can do this too, because the software is free for download, and is available for most operating systems.
Version 2.0 of this software was called Next Generation, so of course the current 3.0 version is called DS9. Geeks call the shots on these things!
What you do, see, is get the raw Hubble or Chandra data from NASA— which is available here and here— and then you load it into DS9, and you start making cool astronomical gorgeousness.
I’m thinking of producing a calendar, myself.
Very nice picture. Were you trying to highlight some emission spectrum or just making a pretty picture?
On a totally related note, When will "This is not a sequel" be released? I have been looking forward to the book for quite some time.
I was just trying to make pretty pictures while learning the software. I produced this with maybe five minutes' instruction.
DEEP STATE will be out in January, hurrah!
Wow, I am going to have to sit down and try this.
I never was able to make the FITS plugin for Photoshop work well, maybe I can do better with this.
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