Cosmos and Canvas: Employing Colour Perception in Astronomy Images
Thu, Nov 20
|Virtual Event
Dr. Jayanne English has produced stunning, award-winning astronomical images. She will discuss the astronomical image-making process: how scientists harness a powerful visual grammar, including colour, to explore data and communicate their findings to both their peers and a general audience.
Time & Location
Nov 20, 2025, 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. EST
Virtual Event
About the event
Cosmos and Canvas: Employing Colour Perception in Astronomy Images
Abstract:
Visualizations of astronomy data that resonate with human perception strongly enhance discovery-based science. Examples include perception-base colour mappings of physical parameters through to bold colour images from telescopes that act as extraordinary ambassadors for astronomers. But are these astronomy images snapshots documenting physical reality or are they artistically digitized space-scapes? To answer this, the lecture illustrates how original black and white astronomy data are converted into the colour images gracing websites. It also describes how a scientist can harness a powerful visual grammar, including colour, to explore data and communicate results with greater clarity to both their colleagues and the non-expert public. Often the attempt by scientists to represent their discoveries all but drowns out the voice of visual literacy. Yet sometimes in this battle, between the cultures of science and visual art, both sides win.
This struggle will be…