Pictures are not always what
they seem. And that can be good or bad. For geologists and astronomers, altering
reality is scientifically beneficial.
This computer-generated image of the Moon's spherical surface is not just skewed into a rectangle, it's also enhanced by simulating sunlight shining from the right side. Highlights and shadows are created that improve contrast and allow a clearer view of the terrain's shape and texture.
Hubble Space Telescope images are massaged, too. In an
effort to recreate a "reality" that the human eye cannot see, artists and
scientists apply colors to images whose data is actually collected in black and
white. Researchers tend to agree that the approach is very useful and not
deceptive, but some also say that
