Ask MIT: Space Photography?

Does Space Really Look Like That? Explore the Universe with MIT Scientists!

🔭 Have you ever seen those stunning images of galaxies and stars captured by telescopes like the James Webb Space Telescope? Is that what space really looks like?! And what does a telescope from NASA have in common with an Instagram filter?
Find out in this video! Join Curiosity Correspondent Abby Haley and Curious Kid Blue on a cosmic journey to uncover the truth behind these breathtaking images! MIT astrophysics experts, Anika Nath and Rohan Naidu guide Abby and Blue through the science of telescopes.

Anika and Rohan explain how telescopes like the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and ALMA capture the universe. It turns out these stars and galaxies produce light on spectrums we can’t even see! Those amazing images have been processed and filtered to reveal details invisible to the naked eye–just like when you add a color filter to an Instagram selfie, these telescope images have filters that enable us to see all the stunning detail of these far-away stars and galaxies.

Meet the Experts: Rohan and Anika from MIT!
Rohan Naidu (Pappalardo Fellow, MIT Physics) explains how telescope images are created. Using relatable comparisons like Instagram filters, Rohan describes how these images are modified with different wavelengths, or “filters,” to show distinct aspects of the cosmos. When viewing with different “lenses” like infrared or sepia, scientists reveal layers and features of distant galaxies that are otherwise invisible.
Anika Nath (MIT ‘25 Physics and Earth, Atmospheric & Planetary Sciences) is an MIT undergraduate student specializing in planetary rotations. She talks about how telescopes like ALMA capture complex data that need brightness adjustments to produce a clear image. She shares how scientists “clean up” the images to help us visualize phenomena like planetary formations and distant stars in greater detail.

What Does Space Actually Look Like to the Human Eye?
Rohan explains that without the aid of advanced technology, much of space would appear dark or empty to the human eye. The telescopes we use, like JWST, act as “night vision goggles” to unveil wavelengths and colors we otherwise couldn’t perceive. It’s fascinating to realize that even our most advanced technology can only show us a piece of the cosmic puzzle.

The Universe: Full of Surprises!

The video wraps up with an exciting takeaway from the latest JWST discoveries. According to Rohan, the universe is still full of surprises, and each new image from space gives scientists clues about phenomena beyond our current understanding. It’s hard not to agree with Anika when she says, “It is really exciting to see what space really looks like.”
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@anikanath9721 @MITDepartmentofPhysics @countrydayschool3823 @EAPSMIT @NASAWebbTelescope