Picturing Galaxies
BEYOND THE MILKY WAY, there are a seemingly limitless number of galaxies that stretch to the edge of the observable universe. Except for all but the nearest dozen or so, their great distances from us make them appear maddeningly small and faint. Additionally, the combined glow of their stars results in objects that appear with low contrast, colour and detail, making galaxies a challenge to render in our images.
Most galaxies are significantly brighter in their centres compared to their outer extremes. Spiral galaxies that are undergoing a period of vigorous star formation tend to have bluish arms, with yellowish or colourless halos consisting of older stellar populations, pinkish H II regions and reddened areas where dust attenuates starlight. Elliptical galaxies are dominated by older, red stars imparting a golden hue. This palette is fairly ubiquitous in the universe, and these simple truths shape the techniques I use to depict them in deep astrophotos. Here are some ways I approach the many different types of galaxies to produce colourful, detailed portraits that retain a pleasing appearance.
Squeezing the dynamic range
Let’s start by contrasting two relatively nearby spiral galaxies — M51, the Whirlpool
