Posted on 12/19/2003 11:10:18 PM PST by concentric circles
299,792,458 m/s
Yes. It's false color as they call it. Several bands of 'color' are recorded and then transformed into visible colors to bring out various features. They could have rendered shades of green or just brightnesses of gray if they wanted.
To date there are only four fundamental forces in nature. Two of them are very short forces and the other two (gravity and electromagnetism) are considered long (infinite). This is why we can see stars and the Earth is influenced by the Suns gravity etc.
The light we see is apart of the electromagnetic spectrum. The different colors are different frequencies of that spectrum. However, that spectrum extends in both directions beyond the capability of our eyes. What we actually se is a very narrow sliver of the electromagnetic spectrum. As a further note, radio waves fall in this same spectrum, only and much longer wavelengths than visible light.
See:
Since objects in the universe radiate across this entire spectrum, we have built instruments that see is these frequencies our eyes cannot. This extends all the way from radio thru infrared, visible, ultraviolet and into the gamma bands.
When these instruments detect the energy in these bands, false color is used to help visualize what the instrument is telling us.
Notice the similarity here? Perhaps all things great and small were created by a master designer.
The most unanswered question put before all human kind; (In spite of their self appointed wisdom) How can such great order and Universal design be the product of an accidental, random event that erupted from complete chaos?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.