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What you see in books and on the internet and TV is light amplified dramatically by long exposures and false colors used to isolate and analyze elements. We notice subtle color differences in stars because they are bright enough to trigger the cones (color receptors) on our eye’s retinas.
Even through larger commercial telescope, most objects other than some stars, planets, and the brightest nebulae, appear as white and shades of gray with only the slightest hint of color.
To the right we see the Eagle Nebula (M-16) imaged multiple times, each with a filter which allows only the emission spectrum of certain elements to pass. Each exposure is assigned a certain color - either similar to the actual or otherwise determined color. Then images are overlaid for artistic, often scientifically relevant purpose.
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