Astronomers at Johns Hopkins University combined all the galaxy spectra information obtained by the 2dF Galaxy Redshift Survey to try to figure out what the color of the universe is. They averaged the light of 200,000 galaxies.

Astronomers Karl Glazebrook and Ivan Baldry ran the information through a computer program that converts a spectrum into color values for computer monitors. The color of the universe appears to be a pale turquoise green.

The vividness or saturation of the color was exaggerated to display the greenish tint or hue clearly. The true colors are very subtle and very close to white, as visual observers of galaxies have seen. The third color dimension for the human eye is brightness. The brightness was boosted to bring the color patch into the range of normal daytime or indoor illumination.

Another concern is what version of white was used as a reference point. Baldry and Glazebrook used a color model that sets daylight as slightly bluish, and is commonly used in dim conditions. It makes the spectrum shift toward green. If the “white point” were bluer, the spectrum would shift toward pink.

There are many problems when using computer values for subtle colors. Other models are being considered. Astronomers are considering the possibility of constructing an artificial light source to exactly mimic the cosmic spectrum so we can see the real color for ourselves.