Reminiscent of Frank Kelly Freas

Green is a rare color for astrophotography, but when the image results from an infrared exposure, all bets are off, with colors sometimes assigned to specific gases or elements or what have you, for scientific clarification.

This fantabulous infrared image shows the M17 Nebula (the brightest area) and heated dust structures associated with the nebula. The fascinating dark streaks are likely ripples of star formation — and are to me, with the rest of the image, very reminiscent of a Frank Kelly Freas illustration, coloration and all. I expect to see one of his trademark spaceships blazing across the foreground and a semi-hidden image of a sci-fi character in the background.

Spitzer Telescope — M17 Nebula — ca 2010