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INSATLLATION
SCHEMATICS
DETECTORS
FILTERS
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filters part 1 filters part2

An optical filter is transparent material used to select the wavelengths of light allowed to reach a photosensitive material. Stained glass would be an example of a filter. A red piece of glass would absorb all other wavelengths of sunlight except for the red it lets through.
filter wheel

For WFC3 and many of Hubble's instruments, a single filter from a whole set is positioned to receive light before the detector (photosensitive material).

The filters are switched out mechanically to allow only the desired wavelength of light to hit the detector.

The images released to the public are usually combinations of single-filter images (done in post-processing of the data). For instance, single blue, red, and green filter images could be combined to create a full-color image (TV's and monitors also combine these 3 colors to achieve full-color). Click here for an excellent tutorial from the STScI on how colors are produced in Hubble's Images.

mars color
filters part 2



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NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Curator: Lori Tyahla
Content Manager: Lori Tyahla
NASA Official: Randy Kimble
Last Updated: December 07, 2005
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