What Does Space Really Look Like?
Though scientists and theorists have offered boundless imaginations to what space might look like, most of us cannot answer the same with certainty. What does the vast universe beyond Earth’s atmosphere actually look like? Our minds can only imagine so much and this guide feels to bridge that gap by looking at all available space images for a more accurate representation.
What Does Space Look Like?
The famous black and white images of space are often the first thing that comes to mind when you ask someone what space looks like. These images were shot from the Luna 9 mission to the Moon in 1959, however, similar photos also originate from Russia’s Luna 3 mission a few months prior.
Both images show off the dark side of the moon’s rugged terrain and craters, a sight that quickly became iconic and ingrained in our minds. However, these photos often make it seem as if the universe is made up entirely of dark grays, which is far from the truth.
With modern advances in space exploration and technology, there are now many clearer and vibrant images of the cosmos, which accurately depict the natural colors and beauty that exits beyond our atmosphere.
The Colorful Universe
As noted above, our universe is made of a myriad of colors that stretch far beyond the typical shades of gray. Galaxies fans stretch across different colors like blue, red and pink and shine brightly against the seemingly endless black space. In fact, different colors represent different environmental conditions in galaxies, stars, planets and more.
Take the blue hue that is often seen in deep space photos, for instance. This particular color is the result of hydrogen gas, which emits this cool color when exposed to intense stellar radiation.
Red and pink colors, however, are produced by oxygen and nitrogen gases, while yellow represents artificial light sources such as urban areas and vehicle headlights.
Real-world Examples of Space Color
In many cases, space photographs such as Hubble’s high-resolution images that showcase different parts of the universe, contain multiple colors at once. Below is a list of some real-world examples of what space looks like, as seen through the lens of these advanced space telescopes:
• The Lagoon Nebula – This area contains two different colors; blue and pink. The blue hue is created from cosmic gases that are heated by young stars, while the pink hue originates from the emissions of hydrogen gas.
• The Eagle Nebula – This nebula offers up the classic blue hue, which is created from the excitation of oxygen atoms.
• Orion Nebula – This location is filled with the energizing red color, which is believed to be produced by hydrogen atoms.
• The Andromeda Galaxy – This iconic galaxy host the electrifying blue color, created by the hydrogen gas located in its interstellar medium.
• The Horsehead Nebula – The Horsehead Nebula is blue in color and is composed of molecular clouds made up of dust and dark materials such as sulfur and carbon.
• The Bubble Nebula – This glowing pink fountain of gas is released by an incredibly powerful (and hot) star located in the middle of the nebula.
The universe is filled with endless colors, all of which are created from different elements that bounce off one another. From the vibrant blues, pinks and reds, to deep grays and black spaces, the universe is a far more colorful and exotic place than we can even begin to imagine.
Though we’re still learning about the wonders that exist beyond our atmosphere, mesmerizing images and groundbreaking advancements in science reassure us that the future of space exploration and discovery is sure to be a captivating one.
