{"id":12744,"date":"2024-12-18T12:30:58","date_gmt":"2024-12-18T16:30:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zobi.alcowep.com\/bourtagshdrevxnls658739\/nasa-open-science-reveals-sounds-of-space\/"},"modified":"2024-12-18T12:30:58","modified_gmt":"2024-12-18T16:30:58","slug":"nasa-open-science-reveals-sounds-of-space","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zobi.alcowep.com\/bourtagshdrevxnls658739\/nasa-open-science-reveals-sounds-of-space\/","title":{"rendered":"NASA Open Science Reveals Sounds of Space"},"content":{"rendered":"

NASA Open Science Reveals Sounds of Space<\/h2>\n

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4 min read<\/p>\n

NASA Open Science Reveals Sounds of Space<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\"Clouds<\/a><\/figure>
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A composite image of the Crab Nebula features X-rays from Chandra (blue and white), optical data from Hubble (purple), and infrared data from Spitzer (pink). This image is one of several that can be experienced as a sonification through Chandra\u2019s Universe of Sound project.<\/div>\n
X-ray: NASA\/CXC\/SAO; Optical: NASA\/STScI; Infrared: NASA-JPL-Caltech<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

NASA has a long history of translating astronomy data into beautiful images that are beloved by the public. Through its Chandra X-ray Observatory<\/a> and Universe of Learning<\/a> programs, NASA brings that principle into the world of audio in a project known as \u201cA Universe of Sound.\u201d The team has converted openly available data from Chandra, supplemented by open data from other observatories, into dozens of \u201csonifications,\u201d with more on the way.<\/p>\n

Following the open science principle of accessibility, \u201cA Universe of Sound\u201d helps members of the public who are blind or low vision experience NASA data in a new sensory way. Sighted users also enjoy listening to the sonifications.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cOpen science is this way to not just have data archives that are accessible and incredibly rich, but also to enhance the data outputs themselves,\u201d said Dr. Kimberly Arcand, the visualization scientist and emerging technology lead at Chandra and member of NASA\u2019s Universe of Learning who heads up the sonification team. \u201cI want everybody to have the same type of access to this data that I do as a scientist. Sonification is just one of those steps.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Data sonification of the Milky Way galactic center, made using data from NASA\u2019s Chandra X-ray Observatory, Hubble Space Telescope, and Spitzer Space Telescope.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While the Chandra telescope provides data in X-ray wavelengths for most of the sonifications, the team also took open data from other observatories to create a fuller picture of the universe. Types of data used to create some of the sonifications include visual and ultraviolet light from the Hubble Space Telescope, infrared and visual light from the James Webb Space Telescope, and infrared light from the now-retired Spitzer Space Telescope.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The sonification team, which includes astrophysicist Matt Russo, musician Andrew Santaguida (both of the SYSTEM Sounds project), consultant Christine Malec, and Dr. Arcand, assigned each wavelength of observation to a different musical instrument or synthesized sound to create a symphony of data. Making the separate layers publicly available was important to the team to help listeners understand the data better.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not just about accessibility. It\u2019s also about reproducibility,\u201d Arcand said. \u201cWe\u2019re being very specific with providing all of the layers of sound, and then describing what those layers are doing to make it more transparent and obvious which steps were taken and what process of translation has occurred.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

For example, in a sonification of the supernova remnant Cassiopeia A<\/a>, modified piano sounds represent X-ray data from Chandra, strings and brass represent infrared data from Webb and Spitzer, and small cymbals represent stars located via visual light data from Hubble.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Data sonification of the Cassiopeia A supernova remnant, made using data from NASA\u2019s Chandra X-ray Observatory, James Webb Space Telescope, and Hubble Space Telescope.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The team brought together people of various backgrounds to make the project a success \u2013 scientists to obtain and interpret the data, audio engineers to mix the sonifications, and members of the blind and low vision community to direct the product into something that brought a greater understanding of the data.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cAnother benefit to open science is it tends to open those pathways of collaboration,\u201d Arcand said. \u201cWe invite lots of different community members into the process to make sure we\u2019re creating something that adds value, that adds to the greater good, and that makes the investment in the data worthwhile.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

A documentary about the sonifications called \u201cListen to the Universe\u201d<\/a> is hosted on NASA+. Visitors can listen to all the team\u2019s sonifications, including the separate layers from each wavelength of observation, on the Universe of Sound website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

By <\/em><\/strong>Lauren Leese<\/em><\/strong><\/a>\u00a0
Web Content Strategist for the Office of the Chief Science Data Officer<\/a><\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n

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