GALAXIES · 2006-03-03
A Shocking Surprise in Stephan Quintet
This view of Stephan's Quintet is explicitly described by its source as a false-color composite.
What to observe
- Treat each color as part of a visual key rather than immediate proof of visible appearance.
- Look for boundaries where one data layer becomes dominant.
Explanation
The composite combines Spitzer Space Telescope data with observations from a ground-based telescope in Spain.
Color method
False color assigns visible colors to selected data so that structures or measurements can be distinguished.
Why it matters
The phrase false color does not mean false information; it means the display color is an interpretive mapping that must be read with its legend.
Sources and credits
Asset credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Max Planck Institute / JPL