We have all seen space images, and if you ask me, they’re all awe-inspiring. But have you ever wondered what these photos would sound like? In its recent project, NASA has created a synesthetic experience by giving sound to astronomical images. And they sound just as astonishing as they look!
NASA used sonification to turn photos into music, which is a process that translates data into sound. So, instead of just staring in awe into photos of the Milky Way, you can now listen to them too. “The translation begins on the left side of the image and moves to the right, with the sounds representing the position and brightness of the sources,” NASA explains.
NASA explains further that there are two ways to listen to the sonified data. There are “solos” from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, Hubble Space Telescope, and Spitzer Space Telescope, or an “ensemble” in which each telescope plays a different instrument.
The video above shows the Galactic Center of the Milky Way. Honestly, I almost cried when I listened to it, and I wish it were longer. If you’ve listened to it and you share my impressions, I’ve got some good news: there are a few more sonified versions of photos. Here’s what the remains of a supernova called Cassiopeia A sound like:
And if you’ve ever wondered what the iconic “Pillars of Creation” sounded like, this is the answer.
“Whether it comes from vocal chords in our throats or the surface of the Sun, sound plays a valuable role in our understanding of the world and cosmos around us,” NASA writes. For us “regular folks,” these sonified images are a chance to hear something extraordinary and enjoy the sound of astronomical photos just like we enjoy the photos themselves. Perhaps even more. [via Laughing Squid; Credits: X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO; Optical: NASA/STScI; IR: Spitzer NASA/JPL-Caltech]
