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Subject: Re: [M]: OT: 7" LX200 observations
From: DLSW-Mote, Thomas A.
Reply To: mapug@shore.net
Date: Sun Jan 19 00:35:53 1997

J HOPPER wrote:
> <SNIP>
> Is it possible that because we are mostly guys, and therefore mostly
> partially color-blind, that most are just not fortunate enough to see
> the moderately subtle color? I'd be interested to know if women do
> better with seeing color in M42..... they ought to.
> So bundle up your wives and daughters, and please report back. ;-)
> <SNIP>
John,
The reason is not because we males are more prone to color blindness
than women. It is because M42 is an emission nebula and its light
is mostly from the H alpha and O III spectral lines. H alpha is
down in the red portion of the spectrum where our nigh vision is
very poor to, perhaps, nonexistant. The O III lines are in the
green portion of the spectrum where both male and female human
dark adapted eyes are most sensitive.
Tom