Are you an amateur astronomical image processor wondering how the pros do it? Are you just curious to see how a Hubble picture is processed from raw imagery? This Google Hangout, hosted by Tony Darnell of YouTube’s Deep Astronomy, featured Hubble Imaging Group Lead Zolt Levay, who creates many of Hubble’s famous images. Mr. Levay took us through an example of image processing using data for Hubble’s well-known image of Stephan’s Quintet.
Editorial note: Due to a glitch, the first several minutes of this video were not recorded. The missing minutes cover introductions and the beginning of the demonstration, which details how to locate and retrieve data from the Hubble Legacy Archive. Mr. Levay selects the galaxy grouping Stephan’s Quintet, and locates images taken in three filters, isolating different colors of light from the galaxies.
For more information on astronomical image processing and links to resources, visit: http://hubblesite.org/gallery/hubble-image-processors/