True Color

[Arata]

Sometimes when I see a photo of a galaxy, it might be blue with black bands of dust, but sometimes when I see a different photo of the same galaxy, it might be white, brown or even orange.
Can someone tell me why there is different colors? And what is the true color of galaxies.

Here are some examples.

[deoxy99]

Think about it. The angle, the camera, and exposure all make a difference.

[atomic7732]

Color filters, color filters, color filters. If you use a Hydrogen alpha or Oxygen 3 it brings out different material. Galaxies are not these cool blues and dusty browns. They are gray. If you look through a telescope, they are a dim gray. Only when you turn up the exposure do you get a faint color. Filters also change everything.

[Arata]

So, if you were to see a spiral galaxy in personal, like you were in a starship heading towards it, you would see grey?

[deoxy99]

You would see white and blue.

[atomic7732]

So, if you were to see a spiral galaxy in personal, like you were in a starship heading towards it, you would see grey?

Yes. But technically as you get closer you would see the individual star color.

[Chaotic Cow]

This is interesting topic.

What does a galaxy truly look like. Hmm....

[atomic7732]

Only one way to find out *calls NASA*

[Bla]

Also, it depends on if you measure the visible light, or if you measure infrared, radio, ultraviolet or other kinds of radiation that are not visible. Then they are colored according to those radiations, which are not their visible light.