Is ultraviolet astronomy uninteresting?
Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 6:51 pm
split from http://asterisk.apod.com/vie ... 25#p127488
As for what the WISE image of the Pleiades tells us about the nebulosity around this cluster, compare it with Rogelio Bernal Andreo's image of the Pleiades and the California Nebula. I personally feel that I learn a lot more about the nebulosity around the Pleiades from Andreo's image than I do from the WISE image:
Here is a link to a larger size of Andreo's image:
http://deepskycolors.com/pics/astro/200 ... 1499WF.jpg
All right. I, too, realize that the WISE image contains temperature information that is lacking in Andreo's image. And I, too, realize that it is always a good thing to have a lot of information about an object. And I, too, realize that other people like other things than I do, and that many people may find the WISE image of the Pleiades beautiful.
I really appreciate infrared images in some circumstances. When it comes to objects that are shrouded by dust, or objects whose light has been redshifted clear out of the visual part of the spectrum, then infrared astronony becomes crucially important. For example, infrared astronomy beats visual astronomy hands down when it comes to detecting star formation, and during future planet hunts, infrared astronomy will likely do so much better than visual astronomy.
I don't disapprove of infrared astronomy, absolutely not. But I still find the WISE image of the Pleiades unimpressive and very, very short on new information.
Ann
As for what the WISE image of the Pleiades tells us about the nebulosity around this cluster, compare it with Rogelio Bernal Andreo's image of the Pleiades and the California Nebula. I personally feel that I learn a lot more about the nebulosity around the Pleiades from Andreo's image than I do from the WISE image:
Here is a link to a larger size of Andreo's image:
http://deepskycolors.com/pics/astro/200 ... 1499WF.jpg
All right. I, too, realize that the WISE image contains temperature information that is lacking in Andreo's image. And I, too, realize that it is always a good thing to have a lot of information about an object. And I, too, realize that other people like other things than I do, and that many people may find the WISE image of the Pleiades beautiful.
I really appreciate infrared images in some circumstances. When it comes to objects that are shrouded by dust, or objects whose light has been redshifted clear out of the visual part of the spectrum, then infrared astronony becomes crucially important. For example, infrared astronomy beats visual astronomy hands down when it comes to detecting star formation, and during future planet hunts, infrared astronomy will likely do so much better than visual astronomy.
I don't disapprove of infrared astronomy, absolutely not. But I still find the WISE image of the Pleiades unimpressive and very, very short on new information.
Ann