Boris Starosta has contributed the following improved rendering of the important HST image being discussed here:
metaresearch.org/publicftp/NGC4319-Mark205.jpg
Boris writes: "The bridge is very obvious in this "false color" result. ... I've applied a common density gradient to the entire image, with a jump in contrast at just the brightness level where the bridge is apparent. This does two things: it clearly shows the bridge while maintaining the familiar appearance in the brightest parts of the image, and it enhances the low contrast data all around the image that you need to see that the bridge is not some kind of artifact common to other parts of the image. What I find most interesting is that the bridge feature appears quite linear and is pointing nearly at the core of NGC 4319. This means (I think) that it can't be some stray spiral arm of the galaxy."
Later efforts to detect any color gradient in the bridge were unsuccessful at finding one. -|Tom|-
