This is what the center of the Milky Way sounds like

Music news

NASA has worked with artists from different disciplines to interpret the data obtained differently and they have managed to do something unique: convert data into music.

Since the pandemic, NASA has been working with musicians and visual artists in order to do something different from what they were already doing. On this occasion, with the help of different musicians, they managed to convert the collected data into a Midi file, which was interpreted by the Ensemble Éclat.

These data were collected using the Chandra space telescope which, despite being close to retirement, continues to bring joy to NASA. He helped discover the oldest black hole and recently created this piece of music, a collaboration between NASA’s Chandra X-ray Center and the company System Sounds.

For NASA this is a way to “experience data through the sense of hearing instead of seeing it as images”, which is the most common way to present astronomical data from a telescope. The new format brings blind people closer to astronomy, but also gives a more vibrant dimension to the furious explosions of stars and gas clouds in the Milky Way.

If you want to hear what the stars sound like, we leave you the video of the Ensemble Éclat so you can observe and listen to the stars. Without a doubt, this is a great success for NASA and we hope in the near future to be able to listen to other galaxies or even planets.

Staff

Written by

Christopher Johnson

Christopher Johnson is a dedicated writer and key contributor to the WECB website, Emerson College's student-run radio station. Passionate about music, radio communication, and journalism, Christopher pursues his craft with a blend of meticulous research and creative flair. His writings on the site cover an array of subjects, from music reviews and artist interviews to event updates and industry news. As an active member of the Emerson College community, Christopher is not only a writer but also an advocate for student involvement, using his work to foster increased engagement and enthusiasm within the school's radio and broadcasting culture. Through his consistent and high-quality outputs, Christopher Johnson helps shape the voice and identity of WECB, truly embodying its motto of being an inclusive, diverse, and enthusiastic music community.