Sorry, Internet, Some Of Your Favorite Space Pictures Are Fakes
“Fortunately, there are some telltale signs you can look for to help you spot a fake from a mile away. Some simply have unnatural colors added: there are no pink or purple stars. Others show very bright and very faint objects, like daylight and stars, together in the same picture. Others use elements of real (often famous) photos, but surreptitiously combine them with additional elements. If you recognize the originals, the fakery becomes even more obvious.”
Have you ever seen some beautiful, breathtaking, awe-inspiring pictures of the Universe, with what appears to be a too-good-to-be-true view? While there are some real, spectacular pictures out there, there are even more pictures claiming to be something other than what they are. Oftentimes, nature’s most beautiful sights are captured earnestly, and then ruined by someone sharing out a fake version, passing it off as genuine. There are lots of reasons to engage in such a scam, with the most blatant one being to inflate clicks, followers, and even direct advertising revenue. Yet if you’re someone who has any interest in telling what’s real apart from what’s fake, there are tools, tips, and resources out there to help you in your quest. Here’s your lesson on spotting space fraud 101.
Enjoy the spectacular images (and explanations) on this edition of Mostly Mute Monday!