🌌 Understanding Filters & Colour Palettes in Astrophotography
Ever wondered how those stunning, colourful nebula photos are made? It all starts with special filters and a little creative magic using colour palettes. Here’s a simple explanation:
🔍 What Are Ha, SII, and OIII Filters?
These filters help us capture the invisible beauty of nebulae by isolating specific gases that glow in space:
🌕 Ha (Hydrogen-alpha)
Shows glowing hydrogen gas – captured in deep red light.🔥 SII (Sulphur II)
Reveals ionized sulphur – also in red light, but different from Ha.💧 OIII (Oxygen III)
Captures glowing oxygen – usually appears blue green.
These gases are all around in space. By isolating them with filters, we can see fine details and structure that would otherwise be invisible.
🎨 Colour Palettes – Turning Data Into Art
Once we capture the data through filters, we assign colours to each one to create beautiful, artistic images. These are called colour palettes. Each one gives the same nebula a different look and feel:
🛰️ SHO Palette (Hubble Palette)
SII → Red
Ha → Green
OIII → Blue
This is the famous "Hubble look" — full of golden tones, vibrant blues, and surreal colours.
🔴 HOO Palette
Ha → Red
OIII → Green & Blue (Cyan)
More natural and closer to what our eyes might expect — rich reds with cool teal and blue tones.
🧪 HSO Palette
Ha → Red
SII → Green
OIII → Blue
Used to bring out unique details by changing how the gases are displayed. It’s great for highlighting sulphur structures.
🎨 Foraxx Palette
Ha → Red
OIII → Green
SII → Blue
A modern, artistic approach that creates bold golden and blue contrasts. A favourite among today's astrophotographers!
✨ Why Does This Matter?
Each palette tells a different story — like viewing the same nebula through a new lens. Whether it’s for science or for art, these techniques help reveal the hidden beauty of our universe.
Want to learn more about how these images are made or see examples? [Link to Gallery] | [About My Gear] | [Learn Astrophotography]