<p>True fact is that most of the images seen so far are taken from the navigation camera (NAVCAM) of the orbiter, Rosetta, and that takes black&amp;white pictures.</p>

<p><a href="http://rosetta.jpl.nasa.gov/news/navcam%E2%80%99s-shades-grey">Here</a> is a very interesting article about how these pictures are taken (ironically it is on a NASA blog). They state that they show pretty much what you would see with a human eye from there, even thought the comet is actually all very dark. The white parts are due to the contrast with the very dark surroundings.</p>

<p>I'm not sure about the images received by the lander. They are captured by the CIVA cameras, where CIVA stands for <a href="http://www.open.ac.uk/science/research/rosetta/mission/philae-lander/civa">Comet Infrared and Visible Analyser</a>. So I guess they might show some infrared light not visible to the human eye, then processed to be in b&amp;w. Unfortunately, I could not find a precise explanation on ESA's website so far. (<a href="http://sci.esa.int/rosetta/31445-instruments/?fbodylongid=892">here</a> their page for Philae instrumentation).</p>

<p>Anyway, <a href="http://www.universetoday.com/11863/true-or-false-color-the-art-of-extraterrestrial-photography/">as a general rule you should not expect that all images from spacecraft are in true colors</a>.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-13T23:27:33.043Z
2014-11-13T23:27:33.043Z
Niccolò
<p>Regular digital cameras <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_filter_array" rel="noreferrer">color filter arrays</a> that put the pixel sensors so that it only detects a particular color. Therefore, there is a trade-off, because without the filter array, you would have a significantly higher-resolution black-and-white image.</p>

<p>However, most scientific digital cameras work differently. Rather, the usual technique is to put filters over the entire image, and switch out the filters if a different color is required. Subsequent differently-filtered images can then be combined into one image. But there's still a trade-off: putting in filters decreases the dynamic range of the camera significantly. Additionally, this approach does not require one to use the usual <em>red</em>, <em>green</em>, <em>blue</em> scheme; e.g., and IR filter would allow one to emphasize different features.</p>

<p>It is very likely that they simply didn't bother to put color filters in the cameras. Why would they? The colors are probably rather drab on the comet anyway, and it unnecessarily increases the complexity of the cameras (which is already a quite complicated panoramic array).</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-14T00:44:58.323Z
I think that the three wavelengths of human eye (red, green, blue) are not so important for scientific examination of the pictures. I can imagine that much more important could be filters designed for certain wavelengths to detect certain properties from the picture.
pabouk - Ukraine stay strong
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-13T23:37:10.320Z
2014-11-13T23:37:10.320Z
Stan Liou
<p>I was wondering why every picture we saw on internet about Rosetta's landing on 67p just black and white ? Is there something i should know ?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-14T07:02:57.293Z
Not worth writing as an answer, but keep in mind that the data transfer rates are *incredibly* low. So having multiple colour filters might be a luxury they can't afford.
Warrick
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-14T14:01:39.313Z
They said there's some reddish there, for as much colours you could see in that dark. Btw, is the subject clearer to you now or do you need further explanations?
Niccolò
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-15T01:41:14.227Z
Relevant: http://photo.stackexchange.com/a/56720
zibadawa timmy
<comets>
Why all the photos from 67p are black and white?
John DOE
# Why all the photos from 67p are black and white?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-11-13)

I was wondering why every picture we saw on internet about Rosetta's landing on 67p just black and white ? Is there something i should know ?

**Tags:** comets

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Not worth writing as an answer, but keep in mind that the data transfer rates are *incredibly* low. So having multiple colour filters might be a luxury they can't afford.  
> **username_2**: They said there's some reddish there, for as much colours you could see in that dark. Btw, is the subject clearer to you now or do you need further explanations?  
> **username_3**: Relevant: http://photo.stackexchange.com/a/56720  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2014-11-13. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

Regular digital cameras [color filter arrays](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_filter_array) that put the pixel sensors so that it only detects a particular color. Therefore, there is a trade-off, because without the filter array, you would have a significantly higher-resolution black-and-white image.

However, most scientific digital cameras work differently. Rather, the usual technique is to put filters over the entire image, and switch out the filters if a different color is required. Subsequent differently-filtered images can then be combined into one image. But there's still a trade-off: putting in filters decreases the dynamic range of the camera significantly. Additionally, this approach does not require one to use the usual *red*, *green*, *blue* scheme; e.g., and IR filter would allow one to emphasize different features.

It is very likely that they simply didn't bother to put color filters in the cameras. Why would they? The colors are probably rather drab on the comet anyway, and it unnecessarily increases the complexity of the cameras (which is already a quite complicated panoramic array).

> **Comments:**
> **username_5**: I think that the three wavelengths of human eye (red, green, blue) are not so important for scientific examination of the pictures. I can imagine that much more important could be filters designed for certain wavelengths to detect certain properties from the picture.  

---

### Answer by username_2 on 2014-11-13. Score: 6

True fact is that most of the images seen so far are taken from the navigation camera (NAVCAM) of the orbiter, Rosetta, and that takes black&white pictures.

[Here](http://rosetta.jpl.nasa.gov/news/navcam%E2%80%99s-shades-grey) is a very interesting article about how these pictures are taken (ironically it is on a NASA blog). They state that they show pretty much what you would see with a human eye from there, even thought the comet is actually all very dark. The white parts are due to the contrast with the very dark surroundings.

I'm not sure about the images received by the lander. They are captured by the CIVA cameras, where CIVA stands for [Comet Infrared and Visible Analyser](http://www.open.ac.uk/science/research/rosetta/mission/philae-lander/civa). So I guess they might show some infrared light not visible to the human eye, then processed to be in b&w. Unfortunately, I could not find a precise explanation on ESA's website so far. ([here](http://sci.esa.int/rosetta/31445-instruments/?fbodylongid=892) their page for Philae instrumentation).

Anyway, [as a general rule you should not expect that all images from spacecraft are in true colors](http://www.universetoday.com/11863/true-or-false-color-the-art-of-extraterrestrial-photography/).


---

