[dragnet2]

This explains it better than I.

Color in Astronomical Images

http://www.astropix.com/HTML/I_ASTROP/COLOR.HTM

BTW, in the Veil Nebula shot above, I did not add any color, and basically only performed curves and levels adjustments. I will not over process images, and what ya see there, is basically what the camera saw.

All I did was help bring out the data, which already existed in the raw image.

I believe the image above was a series of 30 images at about 1.5 minute exposures each, then I calibrated, aligned and stacked all the images into what you see.

[bigheadfred]

Thank you very much.

[KC Burke]

That is one incredible bit of photographic artistry and expertise. My compliments.