Where do the colors come from?
Each palette is based on public images from NASA, ESA and other space agencies and observatories. We pick the five colors that stand out most in the picture: the glowing gas, the dust, the light of the stars and the dark of space.
Why do nebulae look so colorful?
Many space telescopes see light our eyes cannot, such as infrared. Scientists give each kind of light a visible color, so the hydrogen, oxygen and dust in a nebula show up as pink, blue, teal or gold. The colors are real data turned into a picture.
How to use a space palette
Dark navy and black work as a background, the bright colors as accents. They suit posters, album covers, game interfaces, science projects, birthday parties with a space theme and phone wallpapers.