NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory has shared a new way to experience space, with three new methods”audiosConverts visual astronomical data into audio.

The first sonications are those of Westerlund 2, a group of young stars imaged in optical wavelength by Hubble and at X-ray wavelength by Chandra. As the sound moves left to right across the image, the brighter lights become higher, and the lights toward the top of the image are sharper.

The second sonication is the sound of the rest of the Tycho supernova, with the sounds starting in the middle of the rest and moving outward. Red colors, indicating iron, are represented by lower notes, and bluer colors indicating sulfur are represented by higher notes.

Finally, sonicate Galaxy M87 indicates the location of The famous giant black hole at its center, with a sound that sweeps the image like radar. Light closer to the center of the galaxy is represented by higher observations, and light farthest from the center is represented by lower observations.

In addition to engaging the general public in science, one of the project’s main goals was to allow people who are blind or visually impaired to appreciate the wonders of space, explained Kimberly Arcand, chief scientist at Chandra Visualization.

“Acoustics are tested and verified with experts and not blind or visually impaired experts (eg an astrophysicist, amateur astronomer, students),” he said. shown. “Each sonication is created to better represent scientific data in a way that makes more sense for the specific data, accurately represents it and tells the story, while providing a new way of conveying meaning through el sonido.”

Arcand also said he hopes his team will continue to make more votes in the future as they have been well received. “From user testing of audio systems to different audiences – from students to blind and visually impaired adults – the response has been overwhelmingly positive. Indeed, it evokes positive emotions.”

“We really hope to continue working on implementing a more comprehensive design for our astronomical data as a whole. How not? We are excited to play a role in making the universe accessible to as many people as possible.”

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